HDAC Inhibitors Emerging as New Class of Cancer Medication
In recent years, research efforts related to the use of histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors have yielded promising results in the field of cancer treatment. Within the coming years, experts predict this new class of anticancer agents will emerge to produce clinical benefits among various cancer treatment regiments. Further down the line, second-generation HDAC inhibitors may be improved to deliver personalized treatment methods.
The benefits of HDAC inhibitors are linked to their ability to augment tumor growth. Specifically, these inhibitors interfere with angiogenesis (growth of new blood vessels needed to feed tumors) and cell cycling. They also spur programmed cell death.
HDAC inhibitors are further heralded for their ability to boost the effectiveness of current cancer treatments.
Histone acetylases are enzymes associate with RNA synthesis. A number of HDAC inhibitors have been found to exhibit beneficial control of cancer cell transcription. Different HDAC inhibitors alter cellular functions in a variety of ways, from cell differentiation and apoptosis to cytoskeletal modifications. These multiple pathways for treatment serve to provide researchers with a vast number of research possibilities.
A small number of HDAC inhibitors have already entered experimental trials. For example, FK228 (depsipeptide) has been found to be an effective treatment for prostate cancer among mice. The general consensus is that such treatments are relatively safe, with primary symptoms that include reduced white blood cell production (neutropenia) and reduced presence of platelets (thrombocytopenia).
HDAC inhibitors have also shown treatment potential outside of the realm of cancer. Most notably, brain disorders such as Huntington’s disease, multiple sclerosis and Rett syndrome have emerged as disorders that may benefit from HDAC inhibition.
Resources:
https://www.leaddiscovery.co.uk/reports/…
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11914…
http://www.nature.com/nrd/journal/v7/n10…
http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&am…
