Ultrastructural and immunohistochemical insights on the anti-glioma effects of a dual-drug cocktail in an in vivo experimental model

Glioma coined as 'butterfly tumor' exhibits intense heterogeneity at the molecular and cellular levels. Although, Temozolomide exerted a long-ranging and prevailing therapeutic effect against glioma, albeit it has provided modest survival outcome. Fucoidan, (marine brown algal derivative) has demonstrated potent anti-tumor effects including glioma. Nevertheless, there is paucity of studies conducted on Fucoidan to enhance the anti-glioma efficacy of Temozolomide. The present study aimed to explore the plausible synergistic anti-glioma efficacy of Fucoidan in combination with Temozolomide in an in vivo experimental model. The dual-drug combination significantly inhibited tumor growth in in vivo and prolonged the survival rate when compared with the other treatment and tumor-control groups, via down-regulation of inflammatory cascade- IL-6/T LR4 and JAK/STAT3 as per the immunohistochemistry findings. Furthermore, the ultrastructural analysis indicated that the combinatorial treatment had restored the normal neuronal architecture of glioma-induced rats. Overall, the dual-drug cocktail might enhance the therapeutic outcome in glioma patients.