Although bortezomib is clinically approved for the treatment of Mantle Cell Lymphoma (MCL), only limited effects have been demonstrated. To improve outcomes for bortezomib resistant patient groups, it is necessary to introduce the new therapeutic strategies. In this report, we utilized biochemical and molecular methodologies to demonstrate tissue transglutaminase (TG) activates downstream NF-kB signaling pathways. The signaling axis from TG to NF-kB could be a new therapeutic target to overcome bortezomib resistance in MCL. TG2 is a calcium-dependent protein crosslinking enzyme, and was reported to over-expressed in various cancer cells. MCL expressed elevated levels of TG2, and the modification of TG2 activities altered NF-κB expression and downstream signaling in MCL cells. When the TG2 signaling was inhibited via calcium blockers, the combination of a calcium blocker perillyl alcohol (POH) with bortezomib suppressed NF-κB expression and improved the cytotoxicity of bortezomib in MCL cells. Our study is the first to show the expression of TG2 and the contribution of TG2 to NF-κB signaling in MCL. TG2 inhibition can be an alternative target as anti-MCL therapy, and calcium blockers could be effective combinatory drugs with bortezomib to overcome the bortezomib resistance of MCL.

Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 3364. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-3364

©2012 American Association for Cancer Research
2012