Droxinostat is originally identified as a sensitizer of PPC-1 cells to FAS and TRAIL by downregulating the expression of c-Fas-associated death domain-like interleukin-1-converting enzyme-like inhibitory protein (c-FLIP).
[1]In PPC-1 cells cultured in suspension but not adherent conditions, Droxinostat (20 μM–60 μM) sensitizes cells to anoikis by initially activating caspase 8 with subsequent activation of the mitochondrial pathway. Similarly, Droxinostat also sensitizes other cancer cell lines including PC-3, DU-145, T47D, and OVCAR-3, but not LNCaP or MB-MDA-468, to anoikis or CH-11-induced apoptosis.
[2]However, the direct targets of Droxinostat remains enigma until recently. It is revealed that in histone deacetylases (HDAC) isoform 1-10, Droxinostat selective inhibits HDAC3, 6, and 8, with IC50 values of 16.9 μM, 2.47 μM, and 1.46 μM, respectively, without inhibiting other HDAC members (IC50 > 20 μM).
[3]In MCF-7 breast cancer cells, Droxinostat (10 μM–100 μM) sensitizes cells to apoptosis by decreasing c-FLIP
L and c-FLIP
S expression, reducing cell survival, and inducing apoptosis.
[4]