Therapeutics: Ephrin B2 (EFNB2); zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 2 (ZEB2)

Patient sample and mouse studies suggest inhibiting ZEB2, a negative regulator of EFNB2, could help treat glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). In samples from GBM patients, levels of EFNB2 were lower in tumors than in normal brain tissue. In xenograft orthotopic mouse models of GBM, shRNA targeting ZEB2 in tumors decreased tumor growth compared with scrambled shRNA. In a mouse model of Avastin bevacizumab-sensitive GBM, shRNA targeting ZEB2 decreased Avastin-mediated tumor invasiveness. In a mouse model of Avastin-resistant GBM, shRNA targeting ZEB2 decreased tumor invasiveness. Next steps could include identifying and testing ZEB2 inhibitors of ZEB2 in models of GBM...