Researchers at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center have identified the protein SET as a potential target to enhance the efficacy of existing glioblastoma treatments. Glioblastoma, one of the most lethal forms of cancer, often resists radiation and chemotherapy. In preclinical experiments, suppressing SET prevented tumor development, and interfering with related proteins increased glioblastoma cell sensitivity to radiation. The study highlights a biological pathway involving the enzyme PP2A, which is suppressed by three proteins (ANP32A, CIP2A, and SET) in glioblastoma cells. Blocking these proteins in laboratory and animal models reduced cancer cell survival and made the remaining cells more vulnerable to radiation.
The findings suggest that restoring PP2A activity may diminish glioblastoma cells’ ability to survive treatment, providing a potential avenue to improve the effectiveness of standard therapies such as radiation and chemotherapy. However, the results are preliminary and have not yet been evaluated in human patients. Researchers are now investigating the safety and efficacy of targeting SET or other PP2A-suppressing proteins, as well as exploring the potential of an FDA-approved antipsychotic drug that increases PP2A activity. Nonetheless, the drug is not yet suitable for glioblastoma treatment outside a clinical trial setting. The study was published in the May 2026 issue of Cancer Letters and was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute, and The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center. Source