The epigenetic modifier, valproic acid, enhances radiation sensitivity

Abstract

Valproic acid is an established therapeutic for a variety of seizure disorders and in certain cases for depression and anxiety. In addition, valproic acid has been shown to possess histone deacetylase inhibition activity and is currently being investigated as an anti-cancer agent, either alone or in combination with other conventional cancer therapies such as ionizing radiation. In this study, we investigated whether valproic acid modulates cellular responses to radiation in human erythroleukemic, K562 cells. Hyperacetylation of nuclear histones 3 and 4 was used to correlate the effects of valproic acid to inhibition of histone deacetylase activity, clonogenic survival, apoptosis and apoptos..