Digoxin and other cardiac glycosides inhibit HIF-1α synthesis and block tumor growth

Huafeng Zhang, David Z. Qian, Yee Sun Tan, KangAe Lee, Ping Gao, Yunzhao R. Ren, Sergio Rey, Hans Hammers, Daniel Chang, Roberto Pili, Chi V. Dang, Jun O. Liu, Gregg L. Semenza

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

539 Scopus citations

Abstract

A library of drugs that are in clinical trials or use was screened for inhibitors of hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1). Twenty drugs inhibited HIF-1-dependent gene transcription by >88% at a concentration of 0.4 μM. Eleven of these drugs were cardiac glycosides, including digoxin, ouabain, and proscillaridin A, which inhibited HIF-1α protein synthesis and expression of HIF-1 target genes in cancer cells. Digoxin administration increased latency and decreased growth of tumor xenografts, whereas treatment of established tumors resulted in growth arrest within one week. Enforced expression of HIF-1α by transfection was not inhibited by digoxin, and xenografts derived from these cells were resistant to the anti-tumor effects of digoxin, demonstrating that HIF-1 is a critical target of digoxin for cancer therapy.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)19579-19586
Number of pages8
JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Volume105
Issue number50
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 16 2008

Keywords

  • Cancer therapy
  • Hypoxia
  • Tumor xenograft

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

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