TMIC-15. AGE-RELATED MARKERS FOR SENESCENCE INCREASE IN THE OLDER ADULT EXTRATUMORAL MOUSE BRAIN DUE TO GLIOBLASTOMA

OBJECTIVE The median age of onset for glioblastoma (GBM; IDHwt) is 68-70 years. Age is a strong prognostic factor for GBM patient outcomes such that overall survival in older adults is less than their younger counterparts – even after adjustment for MGMT promoter methylation status. Aging is associated with increased levels of senescence in the brain. Several age-related neurological disorders have been shown to improve with senolytic treatments. Here, we explored the effects and therapeutic neutralization of syngeneic brain tumors on increasing senescence levels in the extratumoral brain (ie. outside of the brain tumor) of young and old mice. METHODS General RNA-sequencing, as well as single-cell (sc) RNA-sequencing was performed on extratumoral tissue from young (8-12 weeks) and older adult (80-90 weeks) C57BL/6 mice with or without GL261 and key markers were validated with RT-PCR. The combined effects of the senolytics, dasatinib and quercetin, with radiation, anti-PD-1 mAb, and IDO enzyme inhibitor treatment, was also investigated. RESULTS General- and sc-RNA sequencing revealed a distinct gene expression profile in the extratumoral brain of older mice with syngeneic GL261 as compared to all other groups. RT-PCR results confirmed that the brain tumor increased gene expression for senescence levels, p53, and NFkB signaling in the older adult extratumoral brain. Expression of the senescence marker p16INK4A was primarily localized to oligodendrocyte progenitor cells in the older adult brain. The combinatorial treatment of senolytics with RT, anti-PD-1 mAb, and IDO enzyme inhibitor led to a synergistic survival benefit in older adult mice with GL261 as compared to the treatment with senolytics, or immunotherapy, alone. CONCLUSIONS The data suggest that the extratumoral brain may be responsible in-part for the poorer outcomes of older adults with GBM and that treatment approaches that target senescent cells may provide clinical benefit.

Duke Scholars

Author Margaret Johnson Neurosurgery

Contributor Margaret Johnson Neurosurgery