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Updated: Jul 16, 2026
09:26
Method for Novel Anti-Cancer Drug Development using Tumor Explants of Surgical Specimens
Published on: July 29, 2011
Discovery and development of SAHA as an anticancer agent
1Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10021, USA. marksp@MSKCC.ORG
Oncogene
|February 27, 2007
Summary
Suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA) effectively halts cancer cell growth and induces death by inhibiting histone deacetylases (HDACs). This targeted action shows significant anticancer potential with minimal toxicity to normal cells.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Epigenetics
Background:
- Studies on dimethylsulfoxide-induced differentiation of murine erythroleukemia cells initiated the research.
- Histone deacetylases (HDACs) play a crucial role in regulating gene expression and cell fate.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the mechanism behind dimethylsulfoxide's effect on cancer cells.
- To identify and characterize novel compounds with anticancer properties.
Main Methods:
- Investigated the effects of suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA) on transformed cell lines in vitro and in vivo.
- Assessed SAHA's inhibitory activity against various classes of human histone deacetylases (HDACs).
Main Results:
- SAHA demonstrated potent inhibition of all known class I and class II human HDACs.
- SAHA induced growth arrest and apoptosis in a wide range of cancer cells with limited toxicity to normal cells.
- SAHA exhibited significant anticancer activity in clinical trials for hematologic and solid tumors.
Conclusions:
- SAHA (vorinostat) is a promising epigenetic therapeutic agent targeting HDACs for cancer treatment.
- SAHA has received regulatory approval for treating cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, highlighting its clinical efficacy.
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