ML327 is a blocker of MYC which can also de-repress E-cadherin transcription and reverse Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT).
Treatment with ML327 induces an elongated morphology in neuroblastoma cells. BE(2)-C cells treated with ML327 demonstrates G1 cell cycle arrest with a concordant decrease in S phase population, and a significant increase in the sub G0 population. ML327 induces the expression of CDH1 in all seven of the neuroblastoma cell lines with a 50 to 1,400-fold induction of CDH1 mRNA expression. ML327 blocks the expression of MYC family of oncogenic transcription factors in all tested neuroblastoma cell lines. Immunoblotting time course demonstrates early repression of N-MYC expression within 2 h of treatment with ML327 (10 µM). p53 levels are also suppressed by treatment with ML327. ML327-pretreated cells demonstrates reduced proliferative potential in both tetrazolium-based (pin vitro assays. ML327 partially restores E-cadherin expression at the plasma membrane in NMuMG cells induced to undergo Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) by TGF-β1 treatment[2].
ML327 treatment significantly reduces tumor volume by three-fold over the two-week treatment period (p=0.02). Tumor explant weights are approximately three-fold smaller in the ML327-treated mice (p=0.01). Mice treated with ML327 lost 12% more body weight than vehicle treated mice. ML327 treatment results in a two-fold decrease in MYCN expression, confirming that ML327 inhibits xenograft MYCN expression (p=0.0035)[1].
[1]. Rellinger EJ, et al. Isoxazole compound ML327 blocks MYC expression and tumor formation in neuroblastoma. Oncotarget. 2017 Jul 20;8(53):91040-91051. [2]. An H, et al. Small molecule/ML327 mediated transcriptional de-repression of E-cadherin and inhibition of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition.Oncotarget. 2015 Sep 8;6(26):22934-48.