Am J Cancer Res 2013;3(1):1-20
Review Article
Life after death: targeting high mobility group box 1 in emergent cancer
therapies
Z Sheng Guo, Zuqiang Liu, David L Bartlett, Daolin Tang, Michael T Lotze
The University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute and Departments of Surgery, Immunology, and Bioengineering, University of
Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
Received January 2, 2013; Accepted January 17, 2013; Epub January 18, 2013; Published January 25, 2013
Abstract: High mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), an evolutionarily highly conserved and abundant nuclear protein also has roles
within the cytoplasm and as an extracellular damage-associated molecular pattern (DAMP) molecule. Extracellular HMGB1 is the
prototypic endogenous ‘danger signal’ that triggers inflammation and immunity. Recent findings suggest that posttranslational
modifications dictate the cellular localization and secretion of HMGB1. HMGB1 is actively secreted from immune cells and
stressed cancer cells, or passively released from necrotic cells. During cancer development or administration of therapeutic
agents including chemotherapy, radiation, epigenetic drugs, oncolytic viruses, or immunotherapy, the released HMGB1 may
either promote or limit cancer growth, depending on the state of progression and vascularization of the tumor. Extracellular
HMGB1 enhances autophagy and promotes persistence of surviving cancer cells following initial activation. When oxidized, it
chronically suppresses the immune system to promote cancer growth and progression, thereby enhancing resistance to cancer
therapeutics. In its reduced form, it can facilitate and elicit innate and adaptive anti-tumor immunity, recruiting and activating
immune cells, in conjunction with cytotoxic agents, particularly in early transplantable tumor models. We hypothesize that HMGB1
also functions as an epigenetic modifier, mainly through regulation of NF-kB-dependent signaling pathways, to modulate the
behavior of surviving cancer cells as well as the immune cells found within the tumor microenvironment. This has significant
implications for developing novel cancer therapeutics. (ajcr0000170).
Keywords: Cancer, HMGB1, NF-kB signaling, activation, innate immunity, dendritic cells, CD8+ T cells, epigenetic pathways
Address all correspondence to:
Dr. Z Sheng Guo
Division of Surgical Oncology
University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute
5517 Centre Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
Tel: 412-623-7711; Fax: 412-623-7709
E-mail: guozs@upmc.edu
Review Article
Life after death: targeting high mobility group box 1 in emergent cancer
therapies
Z Sheng Guo, Zuqiang Liu, David L Bartlett, Daolin Tang, Michael T Lotze
The University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute and Departments of Surgery, Immunology, and Bioengineering, University of
Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
Received January 2, 2013; Accepted January 17, 2013; Epub January 18, 2013; Published January 25, 2013
Abstract: High mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), an evolutionarily highly conserved and abundant nuclear protein also has roles
within the cytoplasm and as an extracellular damage-associated molecular pattern (DAMP) molecule. Extracellular HMGB1 is the
prototypic endogenous ‘danger signal’ that triggers inflammation and immunity. Recent findings suggest that posttranslational
modifications dictate the cellular localization and secretion of HMGB1. HMGB1 is actively secreted from immune cells and
stressed cancer cells, or passively released from necrotic cells. During cancer development or administration of therapeutic
agents including chemotherapy, radiation, epigenetic drugs, oncolytic viruses, or immunotherapy, the released HMGB1 may
either promote or limit cancer growth, depending on the state of progression and vascularization of the tumor. Extracellular
HMGB1 enhances autophagy and promotes persistence of surviving cancer cells following initial activation. When oxidized, it
chronically suppresses the immune system to promote cancer growth and progression, thereby enhancing resistance to cancer
therapeutics. In its reduced form, it can facilitate and elicit innate and adaptive anti-tumor immunity, recruiting and activating
immune cells, in conjunction with cytotoxic agents, particularly in early transplantable tumor models. We hypothesize that HMGB1
also functions as an epigenetic modifier, mainly through regulation of NF-kB-dependent signaling pathways, to modulate the
behavior of surviving cancer cells as well as the immune cells found within the tumor microenvironment. This has significant
implications for developing novel cancer therapeutics. (ajcr0000170).
Keywords: Cancer, HMGB1, NF-kB signaling, activation, innate immunity, dendritic cells, CD8+ T cells, epigenetic pathways
Address all correspondence to:
Dr. Z Sheng Guo
Division of Surgical Oncology
University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute
5517 Centre Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
Tel: 412-623-7711; Fax: 412-623-7709
E-mail: guozs@upmc.edu
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American Journal of Cancer Research
| ISSN: 2156-6976 |