A small molecule inhibitor of NF-κB, dehydroxymethylepoxyquinomicin (DHMEQ), suppresses growth and invasion of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) cells

  • Jason Ho Ting Wong
  • , Vivian Wai Yan Lui
  • , Kazuo Umezawa
  • , Yeung Ho
  • , Elaine Yue Ling Wong
  • , Margaret Heung Ling Ng
  • , Suk Hang Cheng
  • , Chi Man Tsang
  • , Sai Wah Tsao
  • , Anthony Tak Cheung Chan

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

40 Scopus citations

Abstract

Despite the demonstrated constitutive activation of NF-κB in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), the therapeutic potential of targeting this pathway has not been investigated. Here, we employed a small molecule inhibitor of NF-κB, DHMEQ (which mainly blocks nuclear translocation of activated NF-κB) and demonstrated significant inhibition of NPC cell proliferation, migration, invasion, as well as anchorage-independent growth. These antitumor effects were associated with induction of G2/M cell cycle arrest and apoptosis, and downregulation of NF-κB target genes (EGFR, cyclin D1 and survivin). This first demonstration of therapeutic benefits of NF-κB targeting in NPC implicates the importance of targeting this pathway in NPC.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)23-32
Number of pages10
JournalCancer Letters
Volume287
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1 2010
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Anti-invasion
  • Anti-proliferation
  • Apoptosis
  • DHMEQ
  • Nasopharyngeal carcinoma
  • NF-κB inhibitor

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Oncology
  • Cancer Research

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