Histone deacetylase inhibitors in the treatment of lymphoma

Histone deacetylases (HDACs) play an important role in the regulation of gene expression. In addition to histones, HDACs can modulate the function of many other proteins involved in the regulation of cell survival and proliferation, angiogenesis, inflammation, and immunity. Deregulated HDACs have been shown to be commonly associated with many types of cancer, and are considered promising targets for cancer therapy. Several HDAC inhibitors are in clinical trials as monotherapies or in combination with other anticancer agents, but only two such inhibitors -- vorinostat (suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid) and romidepsin (depsipeptide) -- have been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for treating relapsed cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. Other HDAC inhibitors, such as belinostat (PXD101), mocetinostat (MGCD0103), entinostat (SNDX-275), and panobinostat (LBH589), are currently in clinical development. This review focuses on the use of HDAC inhibitors in the treatment of relapsed lymphoma.