Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors: A Hope for Cancer Patients

Abstract

Cancer is a disease caused by genetic and genomic alterations such as amplifications, translocations, deletions or point mutations. Also, cancer development is caused by epigenetic changes due to modifications such as post-translational histone acetylations that can alter DNA and chromatin structures without alterations in the DNA sequence. Histones are the primary protein component of chromatin. It plays an important role in the interactions between the nucleosomes and within the nucleosome itself. Histone deacetylase enzyme is found in the nucleus of the different body cells and plays a vital role in remodeling of chromatin structure and controlling gene expression. Also, it was found to play an important role in the development of cancer. Histone deacetylase inhibitors which are used mainly in psychiatry and neurology may represent a new hope for cancer therapy. They act by various mechanisms which may help in prevention and treatment of cancer. Their combination with various lines of cancer therapy may represent a new hope for cancer patients.