The anti-leukemic effect of a novel histone deacetylase inhibitor MCT-1 and 5-aza-cytidine involves augmentation of Nur77 and inhibition of MMP-9 expression.

A combination of demethylating agents and histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) has been proposed as a novel therapy in leukemia and myelodysplasia. In HL-60 cells azacytidine (AZA) and Metacept-1 (MCT-1), a novel HDACi augmented inhibition of cell growth and increased apoptosis. In identifying a molecular mechanism responsible for these effects MCT-1 alone and in combination with AZA induced p15INK4b, p21WAF1/CIP1 and Caspase-3 whilst attenuating Bcl- XL expression. Interestingly, MCT-1 in combination with AZA significantly induced the recently identified suppressor of leukemogenesis Nur77 and attenuated AZA-induced MMP-9 expression. The combination of MCT-1 and AZA is more effective in inhibiting leukemic cell growth and induction of apoptosis. Regulation of a recently identified tumour suppressor gene together with cell cycle, apoptosis and matrix degrading proteases may underpin the molecular mechanism responsible for these effects.