Association of Ndrg-1 with cancer and iron chelators

Human n-myc downstream-regulated gene 1 (ndrg-1) has been first identified in charhot-marie-tooth disease type 4d (cmt4d). recently, its association with cell differentiation, suppression of growth and proliferation, neoplasia, tumor progression and metastasis has been demonstrated. ndrg-1 gene appears to be regulated in a variety of ways in different types of cancers. it is down-regulated in breast, prostate and colon cancers whereas it is up-regulated in hepatic cancers. different and complex mechanisms may play a role in different types of cells in regulation of ndrg-1 gene. these complex regulations includes major pathways in transcriptional, post-transcriptional and translational levels. it has been shown that desferrioxamine (dfo) and other chelators are effective anti-tumor agents. it’s possible that this effect of chelators is related to ndrg-1 mrna transcription, but it remains unknown which mechanism mediates this regulation and iron’s role in gene expression and proliferation and ndrg-1 need further investigations.