OT:Searching for the magic bullet against cancer: the butyrate saga

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Leuk Lymphoma 2001 Jul;42(3):275-89

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/htbin-post/Entrez/query_old?uid=11699392 & form=6 & db=m\

& Dopt=b

Searching for the magic bullet against cancer: the butyrate saga.

Santini V, Gozzini A, Scappini B, Grossi A, Rossi Ferrini P

Department of Hematology, University of Florence, Firenze, Italy.

santini@...

[Medline record in process]

n-Butyric acid and its " polymorphic " derivatives have been largely but

somehow " blindly " studied in oncology and in red cell

diseases with consistent results through decades indicating a strong

maturative effect determined by enhancement of gene

transcription. Although these effects have been observed mainly in

vitro, the relative absence of systemic toxicity of butyrates

render these compounds appealing as specific therapeutic agents. More

interestingly, their specific mechanism of action, i.e.

inhibition of histone deacetylase and de-repression of transcription

represents at present an unique tool for diseases such as acute

leukemias which are characterised by a disregulation of co-repressors

and co-activators of gene transcription. More insight into

specificity and modalities of action of different butyrate derivatives

may be a guarantee for excellent tailored antileukemic therapy

in the future.

PMID: 11699392, UI: 21556710