Chidamide tablets: HDAC inhibition to treat lymphoma

Chidamide is the first oral subtype-selective histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACI) approved in China as well as the first HDACI of the benzamide class approved for the treatment of relapsed and refractory peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL). This review addresses detailed information regarding chidamide, including the mechanism of action, preclinical pharmacology, pharmacokinetics and metabolism, clinical studies and application, safety, drug interactions and ongoing clinical trials. Although twice-weekly chidamide monotherapy has been recommended based on the evidence from preclinical and clinical studies with tolerable toxicities, its clinical efficacy could be further increased by combination with multidrug chemotherapy or chemo-free regimens. Further investigations into the mechanism of chidamide will facilitate the identification of optimal combined therapy approaches and suitable treatment populations. This review will contribute to a comprehensive understanding and better use of chidamide in clinical practice.