Methadone-mediated sensitization of glioblastoma cells is drug and cell line dependent.

Purpose: D,L-methadone (MET), an analgesic drug used for pain treatment and opiate addiction, has achieved attention from oncologists and social media as possible chemoensitizing agent in cancer therapy, notably brain cancer (glioblastoma multiforme, GBM). MET has been reported to enhance doxorubicin-induced cytotoxicity in GBM cells via activation of the µ-opioid receptor (MOR). Here, we extended this work and quantified the toxic effect of MET in comparison to other opioids alone and in combination with doxorubicin and the clinically more relevant alkylating drug temozolomide (TMZ), using a set of GBM cell lines and primary GBM cells.