Tumor-associated NADH oxidase (ENOX2) (ENOX2)

Tumor-associated NADH oxidase (ENOX2, often termed tNOX) is a growth-related, cell-surface NADH (hydroquinone) oxidase found on cancer cells and only minimally or not detectably on most normal cells, where it catalyzes oxidation of NADH to NAD⁺ at the plasma membrane and participates in time-keeping/growth-related redox cycles that support tumor cell proliferation and survival. It belongs to a small ENOX (ectoenzyme NADH oxidase) family distinct from the classical membrane NADPH oxidase (NOX) enzymes, is encoded by a gene localized to Xq25–26, and has been cloned and biochemically characterized as a tumor-associated oxidoreductase whose selective inhibition (for example by ME-143) represents a potential anticancer therapeutic strategy and a basis for tumor-specific drug targeting and biomarker development.

Other names

tumor-associated NADH oxidasetNOXENOX2growth-related NADH oxidasecancer-specific NADH oxidasetumor-specific inhibitor-sensitive NADH oxidase

For ME-143 and related agents: inhibition of tumor-associated NADH oxidase (ENOX2/tNOX) leading to disruption of plasma membrane NADH oxidase activity, interference with growth-related redox cycling, inhibition of Wnt/β-catenin and other survival pathways, and induction of cancer cell death or growth arrest. More generally: selective inhibition of tumor-specific ENOX2 activity on cancer cell surfaces, exploiting differential expression/activity compared with normal cells