VCU Massey Cancer Center researchers make advances in attacking leukemia cells

By Andrea Butler
Massey Cancer Center

Researchers at the Virginia Commonwealth University Massey Cancer Center reported new findings involving factors that can affect a novel class of antileukemic agents, termed histone deacetylase inhibitors, that could lead to an innovative form of combined treatment for leukemia.

Steven Grant, M.D., Massey’s associate director for translational research and co-leader of the cancer center’s cell-signaling program, and his team published the findings in the July issue of the journal Molecular and Cellular Biology. 

The study demonstrated that in leukemia cells, histone deacetylases inhibitors, which are known to modify gene expression, also induce changes in a master regulatory protein known as NF-kappaB, which is involved in regulation of inflammation, cell survival and numerous other functions. Significantly, Grant’s group discovered that NF-kappaB inhibitors dramatically increased the lethality of histone deacetylase inhibitors in various leukemia cell types.  

“What is noteworthy is that NF-kappaB inhibitors are the subject of great interest as potential anti-inflammatory agents for use in various disorders such as arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease,” Grant said. “The implications of our findings are that these agents may prove particularly valuable in potentiating the antileukemic efficacy of histone deacetylase inhibitors, which have already shown promising evidence of activity in this disease.”

Grant provides Massey’s national leadership in hematologic malignancy research focused on finding new treatments for blood cancers such as leukemias, lymphomas and multiple myeloma. His work is funded by the National Cancer Institute, the V Foundation for Cancer Research, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of America, and the Department of Defense.

The first author on this paper with Grant was Yun Dai, Ph.D., VCU professor of hematology oncology.