From the Research
Methylene Blue Treatment for Glioblastoma
- Methylene blue (MB) has been studied as a potential treatment for glioblastoma, with evidence suggesting it can reverse the Warburg effect, a unique bioenergetic state of aerobic glycolysis found in cancer cells 1.
- MB has been shown to decrease glioblastoma cell proliferation and halt the cell cycle in S phase, and its derivatives, such as toluidine blue O, have similar effects 1.
- The use of MB-loaded polymeric nanoparticles has been explored as a potential delivery method, with results indicating that these nanoparticles can reduce cell viability and improve drug accumulation in glioblastoma cells 2.
- MB has also been found to enhance mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation, increase oxygen consumption, and decrease glycolysis in glioblastoma cells, providing a potential therapeutic effect 3.
- A study using cold atmospheric plasma and MB-loaded nano micelles found a synergistic effect in treating human glioblastoma cells, with increased cell death and reduced cell viability 4.
- Early research also demonstrated that MB can induce cytotoxicity in human brain tumor cells, including glioblastoma, in a dose-dependent manner, with hydroxyl radical and intracellular Ca2+ playing a role in its cytotoxic action 5.
Mechanisms of Action
- MB's mechanism of action in glioblastoma treatment is thought to involve the reversal of the Warburg effect, activation of AMP-activated protein kinase, and inhibition of downstream acetyl-CoA carboxylase and cyclin-dependent kinases 1, 3.
- The use of MB-loaded nanoparticles and nano micelles may improve drug delivery and accumulation in glioblastoma cells, enhancing its therapeutic effects 2, 4.
- The combination of MB with other treatments, such as cold atmospheric plasma, may also lead to synergistic effects and improved treatment outcomes 4.