Vorinostat increases expression of functional norepinephrine transporter in neuroblastoma in vitro and in vivo model

Swati S More1, Melissa Itsara, Xiaodong Yang

  • 1Departments of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, UCSF School of Medicine and UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital, San Francisco, California 94158, USA.

Abstract

Insights

Vorinostat, a histone deacetylase inhibitor, increases norepinephrine transporter (NET) expression in neuroblastoma (NB) cells. This enhances the uptake of (131)I-meta-iodobenzylguanidine (MIBG), suggesting improved NB therapy.

Area of Science:

  • Pharmacology and Therapeutics
  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibition modulates gene expression, potentially affecting drug biodistribution.
  • Neuroblastoma (NB) is a pediatric cancer where targeted therapies are crucial.
  • The norepinephrine transporter (NET) is a key uptake mechanism for radiopharmaceuticals like (131)I-MIBG.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if vorinostat, an HDAC inhibitor, enhances the accumulation of (131)I-MIBG in neuroblastoma tumors.
  • To determine if vorinostat upregulates the human norepinephrine transporter (NET) expression in NB.

Main Methods:

  • In vitro studies using human NB cell lines (Kelly, SH-SY-5Y) treated with vorinostat.
  • In vivo studies using NB1691-luc mouse xenografts treated with vorinostat.
  • Assessment of NET mRNA and protein levels, and (123)I-MIBG uptake in response to vorinostat.

Main Results:

  • Vorinostat treatment caused a dose-dependent increase in NET mRNA and protein in NB cell lines.
  • MIBG uptake increased significantly (4-fold in Kelly, 2.5-fold in SH-SY-5Y) after vorinostat pretreatment.
  • NB xenografts showed increased NET expression and enhanced (123)I-MIBG tumor uptake in vorinostat-treated mice compared to controls.

Conclusions:

  • Preclinical data indicate that vorinostat effectively upregulates NET expression in neuroblastoma.
  • Vorinostat pretreatment enhances the tumor-specific uptake of (131)I-MIBG in neuroblastoma models.
  • This combination therapy holds promise for improving neuroblastoma treatment outcomes.