Selective HDAC6 inhibition has the potential for anti-cancer effect in renal cell carcinoma

Abstract

Abstract Background: Despite advances in systemic therapy for renal cell carcinoma (RCC), most metastatic RCCs remain incurable. Therefore, new therapeutic approaches are needed to further improve the outcome of RCC treatment. Methods: We treated cultured RCC cells with a panel of 12 small molecule selective HDAC (histone deacetylase) 6 inhibitors or genetically knocked down HDAC6. Results: HDAC6 expression was confirmed in pathological RCC specimens and cultured RCC cell lines by immunohistochemical staining and western blot respectively. Most of the HDAC6 inhibitors we used decreased cell viability and proliferation in a concentration-dependent manner in the low micromolar range. Furthermore, HDAC6 inhibition induced apoptosis in RCC cells. The major imitation of our study is the lack of in vivo experiments. Conclusions: HDAC6 inhibitors decreased cell viability and proliferation by inducing apoptosis in RCC cells. Our results suggest that HDAC6 inhibitors are promising anti-cancer agents, which should be validated in future in vivo studies.