1
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Jin X, Wang Y, Chen J, Niu M, Yang Y, Zhang Q, Bao G. Novel dual-targeting inhibitors of NSD2 and HDAC2 for the treatment of liver cancer: structure-based virtual screening, molecular dynamics simulation, and in vitro and in vivo biological activity evaluations. J Enzyme Inhib Med Chem 2024; 39:2289355. [PMID: 38059332 DOI: 10.1080/14756366.2023.2289355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 11/26/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Liver cancer exhibits a high degree of heterogeneity and involves intricate mechanisms. Recent research has revealed the significant role of histone lysine methylation and acetylation in the epigenetic regulation of liver cancer development. In this study, five inhibitors capable of targeting both histone lysine methyltransferase nuclear receptor-binding SET domain 2 (NSD2) and histone deacetylase 2 (HDAC2) were identified using a structure-based virtual screening approach. Notably, DT-NH-1 displayed a potent inhibition of NSD2 (IC50 = 0.08 ± 0.03 μM) and HDAC2 (IC50 = 5.24 ± 0.87 nM). DT-NH-1 also demonstrated a strong anti-proliferative activity against various liver cancer cell lines, particularly HepG2 cells, and exhibited a high level of biological safety. In an experimental xenograft model involving HepG2 cells, DT-NH-1 showed a significant reduction in tumour growth. Consequently, these findings indicate that DT-NH-1 will be a promising lead compound for the treatment of liver cancer with epigenetic dual-target inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xing Jin
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Yangzhou University, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Yuting Wang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jing Chen
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Yangzhou University, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Miaomiao Niu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yang Yang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Yangzhou University, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Qiaoxuan Zhang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine (Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine), Guangzhou, China
- State Key Laboratory of Dampness Syndrome of Chinese Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Guangyu Bao
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Yangzhou University, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
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2
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Yang C, Li B, Feng Z, Li H, Yang H, Yang Z, Liu L, Shi Q, Wang H, Chen ZZ, Huang X, Wang J, Wang Y. Discovery of a Highly Potent Lysine Methyltransferases G9a/NSD2 Dual Inhibitor to Treat Solid Tumors. J Med Chem 2024. [PMID: 39008565 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.4c00640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/17/2024]
Abstract
Both G9a and NSD2 have been recognized as promising therapeutic targets for cancer treatment. However, G9a inhibitors only showed moderate inhibitory activity against solid tumors and NSD2 inhibitors were limited to the treatment of hematological malignancies. Inspired by the advantages of dual-target inhibitors that show great potential in enhancing efficiency, we developed a series of highly potent G9a/NSD2 dual inhibitors to treat solid tumors. The candidate 16 demonstrated much enhanced antiproliferative activity compared to the selective G9a inhibitor 3 and NSD2 inhibitor 15. In addition, it exhibited superior potency in inhibiting colony formation, inducing cell apoptosis, and blocking cancer cell metastasis. Furthermore, it effectively inhibited the catalytic functions of both G9a and NSD2 in cells and exhibited significant antitumor efficacy in the PANC-1 xenograft model with good safety. Therefore, compound 16 as a highly potent G9a/NSD2 dual inhibitor presents an attractive anticancer drug candidate for the treatment of solid tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunju Yang
- Balance-Based Drug Discovery Laboratory, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Bang Li
- Balance-Based Drug Discovery Laboratory, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Zongbo Feng
- Balance-Based Drug Discovery Laboratory, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Huaxuan Li
- Balance-Based Drug Discovery Laboratory, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Hong Yang
- Lingang Laboratory, Shanghai 200031, P. R. China
| | - Zhenjiao Yang
- Balance-Based Drug Discovery Laboratory, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Li Liu
- Balance-Based Drug Discovery Laboratory, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Qiongyu Shi
- Lingang Laboratory, Shanghai 200031, P. R. China
| | - Hong Wang
- Balance-Based Drug Discovery Laboratory, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
- State Key Laboratory of Anti-Infective Drug Development, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Zhong-Zhu Chen
- College of Pharmacy, National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Targeted and Innovative Therapeutics, Chongqing University of Arts and Sciences, Chongqing 402160, China
| | - Xun Huang
- Lingang Laboratory, Shanghai 200031, P. R. China
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Junjian Wang
- Balance-Based Drug Discovery Laboratory, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
- State Key Laboratory of Anti-Infective Drug Development, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Yuanxiang Wang
- Balance-Based Drug Discovery Laboratory, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
- State Key Laboratory of Anti-Infective Drug Development, Guangzhou 510006, China
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3
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Brown BA, Myers PJ, Adair SJ, Pitarresi JR, Sah-Teli SK, Campbell LA, Hart WS, Barbeau MC, Leong K, Seyler N, Kane W, Lee KE, Stelow E, Jones M, Simon MC, Koivunen P, Bauer TW, Stanger BZ, Lazzara MJ. A Histone Methylation-MAPK Signaling Axis Drives Durable Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in Hypoxic Pancreatic Cancer. Cancer Res 2024; 84:1764-1780. [PMID: 38471099 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-22-2945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2022] [Revised: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024]
Abstract
The tumor microenvironment in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) plays a key role in tumor progression and response to therapy. The dense PDAC stroma causes hypovascularity, which leads to hypoxia. Here, we showed that hypoxia drives long-lasting epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in PDAC primarily through a positive-feedback histone methylation-MAPK signaling axis. Transformed cells preferentially underwent EMT in hypoxic tumor regions in multiple model systems. Hypoxia drove a cell autonomous EMT in PDAC cells, which, unlike EMT in response to growth factors, could last for weeks. Furthermore, hypoxia reduced histone demethylase KDM2A activity, suppressed PP2 family phosphatase expression, and activated MAPKs to post-translationally stabilize histone methyltransferase NSD2, leading to an H3K36me2-dependent EMT in which hypoxia-inducible factors played only a supporting role. Hypoxia-driven EMT could be antagonized in vivo by combinations of MAPK inhibitors. Collectively, these results suggest that hypoxia promotes durable EMT in PDAC by inducing a histone methylation-MAPK axis that can be effectively targeted with multidrug therapies, providing a potential strategy for overcoming chemoresistance. SIGNIFICANCE Integrated regulation of histone methylation and MAPK signaling by the low-oxygen environment of pancreatic cancer drives long-lasting EMT that promotes chemoresistance and shortens patient survival and that can be pharmacologically inhibited. See related commentary by Wirth and Schneider, p. 1739.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brooke A Brown
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
| | - Paul J Myers
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
| | - Sara J Adair
- Department of Surgery, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
| | - Jason R Pitarresi
- Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Shiv K Sah-Teli
- Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Biocenter Oulu, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Logan A Campbell
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
| | - William S Hart
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
| | | | - Kelsey Leong
- Engineering Science, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
| | - Nicholas Seyler
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
| | - William Kane
- Department of Surgery, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
| | - Kyoung Eun Lee
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Edward Stelow
- Department of Pathology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
| | - Marieke Jones
- Claude Moore Health Sciences Library, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
| | - M Celeste Simon
- Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Peppi Koivunen
- Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Biocenter Oulu, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Todd W Bauer
- Department of Surgery, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
| | - Ben Z Stanger
- Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Matthew J Lazzara
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
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4
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Piao L, Gao Y, Xu X, Su Y, Wang YD, Zhou J, Gao Y, Fang J, Li Q, Chang S, Kong R. Discovery of potent small molecule inhibitors of histone lysine methyltransferase NSDs. Eur J Med Chem 2024; 268:116264. [PMID: 38412693 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2024.116264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Revised: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 02/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
Nuclear receptor binding SET domain (NSD) proteins are a class of histone lysine methyltransferases and implicated in multiple cancer types with aberrant expression and involvement of cancer related signaling pathways. In this study, a series of small-molecule compounds including compound 2 and 3 are identified against the SET domain of NSDs through structure-based virtual screening. Our lead compound 3 exhibits potent inhibitory activities in vitro towards the NSD2-SET and NSD3-SET with an IC50 of 0.81 μM and 0.84 μM, respectively, and efficiently inhibits histone H3 lysine 36 dimethylation and decreases the expression of NSDs-targeted genes in non-small cell lung cancer cells at 100 nM. Compound 3 suppresses cell proliferation and reduces the clonogenicity in H460 and H1299 non-small cell lung cancer cells, and induces s-phase cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. These data establish our compounds as a valuable tool-kit for the study of the biological roles of NSDs in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lianhua Piao
- Institute of Bioinformatics and Medical Engineering, Jiangsu University of Technology, Changzhou, Jiangsu, 213001, China
| | - Ying Gao
- Primary Biotechnology Co., Ltd., Changzhou, 213125, China
| | - Xiaoshuang Xu
- Institute of Bioinformatics and Medical Engineering, Jiangsu University of Technology, Changzhou, Jiangsu, 213001, China
| | - Yangyang Su
- Institute of Bioinformatics and Medical Engineering, Jiangsu University of Technology, Changzhou, Jiangsu, 213001, China
| | | | - Jie Zhou
- Suzhou Medinoah Co., Ltd., Suzhou, 215125, China
| | - Yang Gao
- Suzhou Medinoah Co., Ltd., Suzhou, 215125, China
| | - Jin Fang
- Suzhou Medinoah Co., Ltd., Suzhou, 215125, China
| | - Qihui Li
- Primary Biotechnology Co., Ltd., Changzhou, 213125, China
| | - Shan Chang
- Institute of Bioinformatics and Medical Engineering, Jiangsu University of Technology, Changzhou, Jiangsu, 213001, China.
| | - Ren Kong
- Institute of Bioinformatics and Medical Engineering, Jiangsu University of Technology, Changzhou, Jiangsu, 213001, China.
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5
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Ma Z, Bolinger AA, Chen H, Zhou J. Drug Discovery Targeting Nuclear Receptor Binding SET Domain Protein 2 (NSD2). J Med Chem 2023; 66:10991-11026. [PMID: 37578463 PMCID: PMC11092389 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c00948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/15/2023]
Abstract
Nuclear receptor binding SET domain proteins (NSDs) catalyze the mono- or dimethylation of histone 3 lysine 36 (H3K36me1 and H3K36me2), using S-adenosyl-l-methionine (SAM) as a methyl donor. As a key member of the NSD family of proteins, NSD2 plays an important role in the pathogenesis and progression of various diseases such as cancers, inflammations, and infectious diseases, serving as a promising drug target. Developing potent and specific NSD2 inhibitors may provide potential novel therapeutics. Several NSD2 inhibitors and degraders have been discovered while remaining in the early stage of drug development. Excitingly, KTX-1001, a selective NSD2 inhibitor, has entered clinical trials. In this Perspective, the structures and functions of NSD2, its roles in various human diseases, and the recent advances in drug discovery strategies targeting NSD2 have been summarized. The challenges, opportunities, and future directions for developing NSD2 inhibitors and degraders are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zonghui Ma
- Chemical Biology Program, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), Galveston, Texas 77555, United States
| | - Andrew A Bolinger
- Chemical Biology Program, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), Galveston, Texas 77555, United States
| | - Haiying Chen
- Chemical Biology Program, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), Galveston, Texas 77555, United States
| | - Jia Zhou
- Chemical Biology Program, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), Galveston, Texas 77555, United States
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6
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Recent advances in nuclear receptor-binding SET domain 2 (NSD2) inhibitors: An update and perspectives. Eur J Med Chem 2023; 250:115232. [PMID: 36863225 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.115232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2022] [Revised: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 02/26/2023]
Abstract
Nuclear receptor-binding SET domain 2 (NSD2) is a histone lysine methyltransferase (HKMTase), which is mainly responsible for the di-methylation of lysine residues on histones, which are involved in the regulation of various biological pathways. The amplification, mutation, translocation, or overexpression of NSD2 can be linked to various diseases. NSD2 has been identified as a promising drug target for cancer therapy. However, relatively few inhibitors have been discovered and this field still needs further exploration. This review provides a detailed summary of the biological studies related to NSD2 and the current progress of inhibitors, research, and describes the challenges in the development of NSD2 inhibitors, including SET (su(var), enhancer-of-zeste, trithorax) domain inhibitors and PWWP1 (proline-tryptophan-tryptophan-proline 1) domain inhibitors. Through analysis and discussion of the NSD2-related crystal complexes and the biological evaluation of related small molecules, we hope to provide insights for future drug design and optimization methods that will stimulate the development of novel NSD2 inhibitors.
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7
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Tang H, Yu A, Xing L, Chen X, Ding H, Yang H, Song Z, Shi Q, Geng M, Huang X, Zhang A. Structural Modification and Pharmacological Evaluation of Substituted Quinoline-5,8-diones as Potent NSD2 Inhibitors. J Med Chem 2023; 66:1634-1651. [PMID: 36642961 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c01920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
The histone lysine methyltransferase NSD2 is overexpressed, translocated, or mutated in multiple types of cancers and has emerged as an attractive therapeutic target. However, the development of small-molecule NSD2 inhibitors is still in its infancy, and selective and efficacious NSD2 inhibitors are highly desirable. Here, in view of the structural novelty of the reported NSD2 inhibitor DA3003-1, we conducted a comprehensive structural optimization based on the quinoline-5,8-dione scaffold. Compound 15a was identified possessing both high NSD2 inhibitory activity and potent anti-proliferative effects in the cell. Meanwhile, compound 15a has an excellent pharmacokinetic profile with high oral bioavailability. Further, this compound was found to display significant antitumor efficacy with desirable safety profile in the multiple myeloma xenograft mice models, thus warranting it as a promising candidate for further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hairong Tang
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center for Drug Target Identification and Delivery, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory for Molecular Engineering of Chiral Drugs, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Aisong Yu
- Division of Anti-tumor Pharmacology, State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Li Xing
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center for Drug Target Identification and Delivery, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China.,Division of Anti-tumor Pharmacology, State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Xiaoyu Chen
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center for Drug Target Identification and Delivery, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Huaqian Ding
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center for Drug Target Identification and Delivery, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China.,Division of Anti-tumor Pharmacology, State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Hong Yang
- Division of Anti-tumor Pharmacology, State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China.,Lingang Laboratory, Shanghai 200210,China
| | - Zilan Song
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center for Drug Target Identification and Delivery, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Qiongyu Shi
- Division of Anti-tumor Pharmacology, State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China.,Lingang Laboratory, Shanghai 200210,China
| | - Meiyu Geng
- Division of Anti-tumor Pharmacology, State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Xun Huang
- Division of Anti-tumor Pharmacology, State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China.,Lingang Laboratory, Shanghai 200210,China
| | - Ao Zhang
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center for Drug Target Identification and Delivery, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China.,Lingang Laboratory, Shanghai 200210,China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory for Molecular Engineering of Chiral Drugs, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
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8
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NSD2 as a Promising Target in Hematological Disorders. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms231911075. [PMID: 36232375 PMCID: PMC9569587 DOI: 10.3390/ijms231911075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2022] [Revised: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Alterations of the epigenetic machinery are critically involved in cancer development and maintenance; therefore, the proteins in charge of the generation of epigenetic modifications are being actively studied as potential targets for anticancer therapies. A very important and widespread epigenetic mark is the dimethylation of Histone 3 in Lysine 36 (H3K36me2). Until recently, it was considered as merely an intermediate towards the generation of the trimethylated form, but recent data support a more specific role in many aspects of genome regulation. H3K36 dimethylation is mainly carried out by proteins of the Nuclear SET Domain (NSD) family, among which NSD2 is one of the most relevant members with a key role in normal hematopoietic development. Consequently, NSD2 is frequently altered in several types of tumors—especially in hematological malignancies. Herein, we discuss the role of NSD2 in these pathological processes, and we review the most recent findings in the development of new compounds aimed against the oncogenic forms of this novel anticancer candidate.
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