Thailandepsin A, a Novel HDAC Inhibitor, Decreases Tumor Cell Survival and Activates the Notch Pathway in Carcinoid Cancer

Carcinoids are neuroendocrine (NE) tumors that secrete hormones causing the carcinoid syndrome. Metastatic carcinoids are not amenable to curative surgery. Our previous research has shown that Notch signaling acts as a tumor suppressor in NE tumors. In the present study, we sought to examine the mechanisms of Notch pathway activation by Thailandepsin A (TDP-A), a newly discovered HDAC inhibitor, and delineate antitumor properties of this drug in gastrointestinal (GI) carcinoid cancer cells.