Targeting Glioma Stem Cells through Combined BMI1 and EZH2 Inhibition [RNA-seq]

Glioblastomas are lethal cancers defined by angiogenesis and pseudopalisading necrosis. Here, we demonstrate that these features are associated with distinct transcriptional programs, with vascular regions showing a Proneural profile and hypoxic regions a Mesenchymal pattern. As these regions harbor glioma stem cells (GSCs), we investigated the epigenetic regulation of these two niches. Proneural, perivascular GSCs activated EZH2, whereas Mesenchymal GSCs in hypoxic regions expressed BMI1 protein, which promoted cellular survival under stress. Using both genetic and pharmacologic inhibition, we found that Proneural GSCs are selectively sensitive to EZH2 disruption, whereas Mesenchymal GSCs are sensitive to BMI1 inhibition. Given that glioblastomas contain both Proneural and Mesenchymal GSCs, combined EZH2 and BMI1 targeting proved more effective than either agent alone both in culture and in vivo, suggesting that strategies that simultaneously target multiple epigenetic regulators within glioblastomas may be necessary to overcome resistance to therapies caused by intratumoral heterogeneity. Overall design: RNA-seq of CD133 positive cells from intracranial xenografts of patient-derived glioblastoma stem cells