Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a poor prognosis type of tumour due to its resistance to chemo and radiotherapy.
SOCS1
and
SOCS3
have been associated with tumour progression and response to treatments in different kinds of cancers, including GBM. In this study, cell lines of
IDH
-wildtype GBM from primary cultures were obtained, and the role of
SOCS1
and
SOCS3
in the radiotherapy response was analysed. Fifty-two brain aspirates from GBM patients were processed, and six new cell lines of
IDH
-wildtype GBM were established. These new cell lines were characterized according to the WHO classification of CNS tumours.
SOCS1
and
SOCS3
expression levels were determined, at mRNA level by Q-PCR, at protein level by immunocytochemistry, and Western blot analysis. The results showed that
SOCS1
and
SOCS3
are overexpressed in GBM, as compared to a non-tumoral brain RNA pool.
SOCS1
and
SOCS3
expression were reduced by siRNA, and it was found that
SOCS3
inhibition increases radioresistance in GBM cell lines, suggesting a key role of
SOCS3
in radioresistant acquisition. In addition, radioresistant clonal populations obtained by selective pressure on these cell cultures also showed a significant decrease in
SOCS3
expression, while
SOCS1
remained unchanged. Furthermore, the induction of
SOCS3
expression, under a heterologous promoter, in a radiotherapy resistant GBM cell line increased its radiosensitivity, supporting an important implication of
SOCS3
in radiotherapy resistance acquisition. Finally, the treatment with TSA in the most radioresistant established cell line produced an increase in the effect of radiotherapy, that correlated with an increase in the expression of
SOCS3
. These effects of TSA disappeared if the increase in the expression of
SOCS3
prevented with an siRNA against
SOCS3
. Thus,
SOCS3
signal transduction pathway (JAK/STAT) could be useful to unmask new putative targets to improve radiotherapy response in GBM.