The anti-cancer compound Nordy inhibits CXCR4-mediated production of IL-8 and VEGF by malignant human glioma cells.

The chemokine receptor CXCR4 plays an important role in tumor growth, angiogenesis and metastasis. Our previous studies showed that Nordy, a synthetic chiral compound of nordihydroguaiaretic acid, inhibited the growth and angiogenesis of various malignant tumors. In this study we examined the capacity of Nordy to regulate CXCR4-mediated production of angiogenic factors by human glioblastoma cells. We found that Nordy potently inhibited CXCR4 ligand SDF-1-induced production of IL-8 and vascular endothelial cell growth factor, two important angiogenic factors implicated in the progression of malignant tumors. Further study revealed that the effect of Nordy was attributable to its down-regulation of the expression of functional CXCR4 in glioblastoma cells. These results suggest that the anti-cancer activity of Nordy is due, at least in part, to its suppression of the chemokine receptor CXCR4 thus reducing the production of angiogenic factors by tumor cells.