HDAC and PI3K Antagonists Cooperate to Inhibit Growth of MYC-Driven Medulloblastoma

Cancer Cell. 2016 Mar 14;29(3):311-323. doi: 10.1016/j.ccell.2016.02.011.

Abstract

Medulloblastoma (MB) is a highly malignant pediatric brain tumor. Despite aggressive therapy, many patients succumb to the disease, and survivors experience severe side effects from treatment. MYC-driven MB has a particularly poor prognosis and would greatly benefit from more effective therapies. We used an animal model of MYC-driven MB to screen for drugs that decrease viability of tumor cells. Among the most effective compounds were histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACIs). HDACIs potently inhibit survival of MYC-driven MB cells in vitro, in part by inducing expression of the FOXO1 tumor suppressor gene. HDACIs also synergize with phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitors to inhibit tumor growth in vivo. These studies identify an effective combination therapy for the most aggressive form of MB.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Genes, Tumor Suppressor / drug effects
  • Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Histone Deacetylases / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Medulloblastoma / drug therapy*
  • Medulloblastoma / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / metabolism*

Substances

  • Forkhead Transcription Factors
  • Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors
  • Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc
  • Histone Deacetylases