Histone deacetylases and cancer: causes and therapies

Nat Rev Cancer. 2001 Dec;1(3):194-202. doi: 10.1038/35106079.

Abstract

Together, histone acetyltransferases and histone deacetylases (HDACs) determine the acetylation status of histones. This acetylation affects the regulation of gene expression, and inhibitors of HDACs have been found to cause growth arrest, differentiation and/or apoptosis of many tumours cells by altering the transcription of a small number of genes. HDAC inhibitors are proving to be an exciting therapeutic approach to cancer, but how do they exert this effect?

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Acetylation / drug effects
  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Cell Cycle / drug effects
  • Chromatin / enzymology
  • Chromatin / ultrastructure
  • Clinical Trials as Topic
  • Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / classification
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Female
  • Forecasting
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / drug effects
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / physiology
  • Gene Silencing / drug effects
  • Gene Silencing / physiology
  • Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors
  • Histone Deacetylases / physiology*
  • Histones / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Models, Molecular
  • Neoplasm Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Neoplasm Proteins / physiology*
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Neoplasms / enzymology*
  • Neoplasms, Experimental / drug therapy
  • Neoplasms, Experimental / enzymology
  • Nucleosomes / enzymology
  • Nucleosomes / ultrastructure
  • Protein Processing, Post-Translational / drug effects
  • Protein Processing, Post-Translational / physiology
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / enzymology
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / physiology
  • Species Specificity
  • Transcription Factors / physiology
  • Transcriptional Activation / drug effects

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Chromatin
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors
  • Histones
  • Neoplasm Proteins
  • Nucleosomes
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins
  • Transcription Factors
  • Histone Deacetylases