Study. U251 cells (56106) were injected into the right hind flank subcutaneously. When the tumors reached a volume of ,150 mm3 they were randomized into one of the two groups. One group received GHRH (1-29) web EGF-SubA (125 mg/kg; n = 6) in sterile PBS (100 ml) and the control group received the same volume of PBSTargeting the UPR in Glioblastoma with EGF-SubAFigure 3. The influence of SubA and EGF-SubA on glioma cell survival. A clonogenic assay was performed to study the cytoxicity of SubA and EGF-SubA in U251 (A), T98G (B) and U87 cells (C). Cells were seeded as single cell suspensions in six well culture plates, allowed to adhere, and treated with the stated concentrations of SubA or EGF-SubA for 24 h. Plates were then replaced with fresh culture media and surviving fractions were calculated 10 to 14 d following treatment. Cell survival was significantly different between SubA and EGF SubA treatment in U251 (p,0.0001) and T98G (p,0.0001 at concentrations 0.5 pM) and not significant in U87 cells (p = 0.2112). (D) Immunoblotting of total cellular protein from U251 cells treated with EGF-SubA at the stated concentrations for 24 h demonstrates EGF-SubA induced apoptosis, as determined by cleaved caspase 3. Each figure is a representative of three independent experiments. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0052265.galone (n = 6) subcutaneously behind the neck. A total of three doses were delivered every other day. The tumor volume (L x W x W/2) and mice weight were measured every other day. The mice were sacrificed when the tumor volume reached 1000 mm3. Prior to their tumors reaching this size, mice were euthanatized ifthey experienced an evidence of suffering, including inactivity, labored breathing, interfere with posture, locomotion or feeding, weight loss of more than 10 , or ulceration of the tumor. Mice were euthanatized by carbon dioxide.Figure 4. EGF-SubA enhances anti-tumor activity of temozolomide and ionizing radiation. A clonogenic assay was performed to evaluate the potential of EGF-SubA to enhance temozolomide (A) (statistically significant p,0.0001) and radiation-induced (B) cytotoxicity (statistically significant p,0.0024). U251 cells were seeded in six well culture plates and exposed to 1 pM of EGF-SubA 16 h prior to the addition of temozolomide or radiation exposure. Fresh media was then replaced in the culture plates after 8 h, and surviving fractions were calculated 10 to 14 d following treatment, normalizing for the individual cytotoxicity of EGF-SubA. Each figure is a representative of three independent experiments. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0052265.gTargeting the UPR in Glioblastoma with EGF-SubAFigure 5. 56-59-7 acidic pH activates the UPR pathway and enhances EGF-SubA cytotoxicity. U251 cells grown in RPMI media whose pH was adjusted to 6.7 and 7.0 with 1N HCl for 3 passages prior to performing experiments demonstrated UPR activation, as determined by PERK phosphorylation (A; pPERK), Xbp1 splicing and increased GRP78 transcription (B). (C) To determine if cells grown in acidic conditions influenced EGFSubA cytotoxicity, a clonogenic assay was performed with U251 cells grown in normal (pH 7.4) or acidic (pH 6.7) conditions at the stated concentrations. Cell survival was significantly different between cells grown in normal and acidic pH at higher doses of EGF SubA (p,0.0001 at 2.5 18325633 pM). Each figure is a representative of three independent experiments. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0052265.gxCELLigenceCell proliferation under normal and treated condit.Study. U251 cells (56106) were injected into the right hind flank subcutaneously. When the tumors reached a volume of ,150 mm3 they were randomized into one of the two groups. One group received EGF-SubA (125 mg/kg; n = 6) in sterile PBS (100 ml) and the control group received the same volume of PBSTargeting the UPR in Glioblastoma with EGF-SubAFigure 3. The influence of SubA and EGF-SubA on glioma cell survival. A clonogenic assay was performed to study the cytoxicity of SubA and EGF-SubA in U251 (A), T98G (B) and U87 cells (C). Cells were seeded as single cell suspensions in six well culture plates, allowed to adhere, and treated with the stated concentrations of SubA or EGF-SubA for 24 h. Plates were then replaced with fresh culture media and surviving fractions were calculated 10 to 14 d following treatment. Cell survival was significantly different between SubA and EGF SubA treatment in U251 (p,0.0001) and T98G (p,0.0001 at concentrations 0.5 pM) and not significant in U87 cells (p = 0.2112). (D) Immunoblotting of total cellular protein from U251 cells treated with EGF-SubA at the stated concentrations for 24 h demonstrates EGF-SubA induced apoptosis, as determined by cleaved caspase 3. Each figure is a representative of three independent experiments. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0052265.galone (n = 6) subcutaneously behind the neck. A total of three doses were delivered every other day. The tumor volume (L x W x W/2) and mice weight were measured every other day. The mice were sacrificed when the tumor volume reached 1000 mm3. Prior to their tumors reaching this size, mice were euthanatized ifthey experienced an evidence of suffering, including inactivity, labored breathing, interfere with posture, locomotion or feeding, weight loss of more than 10 , or ulceration of the tumor. Mice were euthanatized by carbon dioxide.Figure 4. EGF-SubA enhances anti-tumor activity of temozolomide and ionizing radiation. A clonogenic assay was performed to evaluate the potential of EGF-SubA to enhance temozolomide (A) (statistically significant p,0.0001) and radiation-induced (B) cytotoxicity (statistically significant p,0.0024). U251 cells were seeded in six well culture plates and exposed to 1 pM of EGF-SubA 16 h prior to the addition of temozolomide or radiation exposure. Fresh media was then replaced in the culture plates after 8 h, and surviving fractions were calculated 10 to 14 d following treatment, normalizing for the individual cytotoxicity of EGF-SubA. Each figure is a representative of three independent experiments. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0052265.gTargeting the UPR in Glioblastoma with EGF-SubAFigure 5. Acidic pH activates the UPR pathway and enhances EGF-SubA cytotoxicity. U251 cells grown in RPMI media whose pH was adjusted to 6.7 and 7.0 with 1N HCl for 3 passages prior to performing experiments demonstrated UPR activation, as determined by PERK phosphorylation (A; pPERK), Xbp1 splicing and increased GRP78 transcription (B). (C) To determine if cells grown in acidic conditions influenced EGFSubA cytotoxicity, a clonogenic assay was performed with U251 cells grown in normal (pH 7.4) or acidic (pH 6.7) conditions at the stated concentrations. Cell survival was significantly different between cells grown in normal and acidic pH at higher doses of EGF SubA (p,0.0001 at 2.5 18325633 pM). Each figure is a representative of three independent experiments. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0052265.gxCELLigenceCell proliferation under normal and treated condit.