Verification of fluorine in situ in glioblastoma cells after riluzole drug treatment

Gliomas are the most common primary brain tumors in humans. Among them, glioblastoma (GBM) is characterized by short median survival and a 100% tumor-related mortality rate. Cryo-soft X-ray tomography (cryo-SXT) has been used to analyze the structural organization of these cells. However, to our knowledge, no previous studies have observed the structural changes at the organelles level in intact cells after treatment with riluzole.

In the first part of the experiment, we aim to follow the structural changes of cellular compartmentalization in the "water window" energy range. In addition, in the second part, we would like to localize this drug at the cellular level as the molecule of riluzole contains three fluorine atoms and assess organelles that are targeted. Fluorine itself could damage mitochondria by affecting the respiratory chain, cell surface, lipids peroxidation, nucleolus, and DNA damage.

To understand these structural changes and possible fluorine allocation in the cells, we attempt to apply soft x-ray tomography at the Mistral beamline. These results could imply that future therapies could turn from eliminating rapidly dividing tumor cells.