Characterization of a c-Rel inhibitor that mediates anticancer properties in hematologic malignancies by blocking NF-κB-controlled oxidative stress responses Journal Article


Authors: Shono, Y.; Tuckett, A. Z.; Liou, H. C.; Doubrovina, E.; Derenzini, E.; Ouk, S.; Tsai, J. J.; Smith, O. M.; Levy, E. R.; Kreines, F. M.; Ziegler, C. G. K.; Scallion, M. I.; Doubrovin, M.; Heller, G.; Younes, A.; O'Reilly, R. J.; Van Den Brink, M. R. M.; Zakrzewski, J. L.
Article Title: Characterization of a c-Rel inhibitor that mediates anticancer properties in hematologic malignancies by blocking NF-κB-controlled oxidative stress responses
Abstract: NF-κB plays a variety of roles in oncogenesis and immunity that may be beneficial for therapeutic targeting, but strategies to selectively inhibit NF-κB to exert antitumor activity have been elusive. Here, we describe IT-901, a bioactive naphthalenethiobarbiturate derivative that potently inhibits the NF-κB subunit c-Rel. IT-901 suppressed graft-versus-host disease while preserving graft-versus-lymphoma activity during allogeneic transplantation. Further preclinical assessment of IT-901 for the treatment of human B-cell lymphoma revealed antitumor properties in vitro and in vivo without restriction to NF-κB-dependent lymphoma. This nondiscriminatory, antilymphoma effect was attributed to modulation of the redox homeostasis in lymphoma cells resulting in oxidative stress. Moreover, NF-κB inhibition by IT-901 resulted in reduced stimulation of the oxidative stress response gene heme oxygenase-1, and we demonstrated that NF-κB inhibition exacerbated oxidative stress induction to inhibit growth of lymphoma cells. Notably, IT-901 did not elicit increased levels of reactive oxygen species in normal leukocytes, illustrating its cancer selective properties. Taken together, our results provide mechanistic insight and preclinical proof of concept for IT-901 as a novel therapeutic agent to treat human lymphoid tumors and ameliorate graft-versus-host disease. © 2016 American Association for Cancer Research.
Journal Title: Cancer Research
Volume: 76
Issue: 2
ISSN: 0008-5472
Publisher: American Association for Cancer Research  
Date Published: 2016-01-15
Start Page: 377
End Page: 389
Language: English
DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-14-2814
PROVIDER: scopus
PMCID: PMC4715937
PUBMED: 26744524
DOI/URL:
Notes: Article -- Export Date: 4 April 2016 -- Source: Scopus
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MSK Authors
  1. Glenn Heller
    399 Heller
  2. Andrea Tuckett
    16 Tuckett
  3. Jennifer Tsai
    52 Tsai
  4. Richard O'Reilly
    748 O'Reilly
  5. Yusuke Shono
    39 Shono
  6. Odette Marsinay Smith
    98 Smith
  7. Emily Rose Levy
    9 Levy
  8. Fabiana Maria Kreines
    14 Kreines
  9. Carly Gail Kean Ziegler
    13 Ziegler
  10. Anas Younes
    319 Younes