Targeting SCARF1 and SCARF2: A Novel Strategy for Improved Glioblastoma Multiforme Treatment

Abstract

Glioblastoma multiforme remains a threating type of cancer despite all available treatment options. As it has the fastest cell proliferation among other cancer types, patients often cannot survive more than 15 months after diagnosis. Major challenges stand against effective treatment, including blood brain barrier that limits drug delivery. Cell penetrating peptides has the potential to bypass BBB and act as carrier for different anti-cancer medications. G3 peptide which present an antiproliferative features by itself, is used in this study on primary glioblastoma cells. To increase the selectivity of G3 peptide, a highly expressed protein must be targeted. An immunofluorescence staining of scavenger receptor F1 and F2 revealed high expression on glioblastoma cells. To investigate the role of cell surface proteins SCARF1 and SCARF2 for internalizing G3 peptide, a series of siRNA knockdown is done. The effect of silencing SCARF1 and SCARF2 receptors reduced GBM cells viability significantly. G3 uptake is found to be reduced, but more studies need to be conducted to confirm the statistical significance of scarf1 and scarf2 role in internalizing G3 peptide.