In vitro and in vivo anti-uveal melanoma activity of JSL-1, a novel HDAC inhibitor

Uveal melanoma (UM) is the most common intraocular malignant neoplasm in adults. Despite the availability of enucleation, radiation and chemotherapy, the prognosis of patients with metastasis remains poor. Therefore, novel effective therapies for patients with metastatic UM are urgently needed. In the present study, we demonstrated that JSL-1, a novel HDAC inhibitor, effectively inhibited the proliferation. JSL-1 induced apoptosis with increased expression of proapoptotic BH3-only protein BIM in UM cells. JSL-1 suppressed migration and invasion of UM cells with MMP-2 decreased. Furthermore, JSL-1 blocked the canonical Wnt/β-catenin pathway, impaired self-renewal capacity and decreased percentage of ALDH+ cells, thereby reflecting elimination of UM cancer stem-like cells (CSCs) which are believed seeds of metastasis. Importantly, JSL-1 potently inhibited the growth of uveal melanoma xenograft in NOD-SCID mice. These results suggested that JSL-1 may be a promising therapeutic agent for UM.