Designing a Time-Dependent Therapeutic Strategy using CDK4/6 Inhibitors in an Intracranial ATRT Model.

Background: Inhibitors targeting cyclin-dependent kinases 4 and 6 (CDK4/6), crucial for cell cycle regulation, have shown promise in early-stage studies for treating central nervous system (CNS) tumors. However, challenges such as limited CNS penetration, optimal treatment duration, and systemic side effects have impeded their clinical translation for pediatric brain tumors (PBTs).

Methods: We evaluated the potency of CDK4/6 inhibitors across various PBTs cell lines, focusing particularly on palbociclib against atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor (ATRT) with cell viability assays and gene expression analysis.

Influence of focused ultrasound on locoregional drug delivery to the brain: Potential implications for brain tumor therapy.

Introduction: Efficient delivery of therapeutics across the blood-brain barrier (BBB) for the treatment of central nervous system (CNS) tumors is a major challenge to the development of safe and efficacious therapies. Locoregional drug delivery platforms offer an improved therapeutic index by achieving high drug concentrations in the target tissue with negligible systemic exposure. Intrathecal (intraventricular) [IT] and convection-enhanced delivery [CED] are two clinically relevant methods being employed for various CNS malignancies.