Arginine butyrate

{
  "id": "MLC-T-ONC-000707",
  "term": "Arginine butyrate",
  "field": "Oncology and biomedicine",
  "definitions": [
    "A substance that is being studied in the treatment of cancer.",
    "A compound composed of the short chain fatty acid (SCFA) butyrate combined with the amino acid arginine, with potential Epstein-Barr virus thymidine kinase gene (EBV-TK)-inducing activity. Upon administration, arginine butyrate induces the expression of thymidine kinase (TK). This activates a co-administered antiviral, such as ganciclovir, and results in the destruction of EBV-infected cancer cells. In addition, butyrate inhibits histone deacetylase (HDAC), which results in hyperacetylation of histones H3 and H4. Acetylated histones have a reduced affinity for chromatin; this reduced histone-chromatin affinity may allow chromosomal unfolding, potentially enhancing the expression of genes related to tumor cell growth arrest and apoptosis."
  ],
  "abbreviation": "SCFA HQK-1004",
  "synonyms": [
    "L-arginine, butanoate (3:4)",
    "short chain fatty acid HQK-1004"
  ],
  "references": [
    "NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms",
    "National Cancer Institute Thesaurus"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/oncology/arginine-butyrate/"
}