Molecular basis of the anti-cancer effects of histone deacetylase inhibitors

Histone deacetylase inhibitors comprise a variety of natural and synthetic compounds, which have in common that they inhibit enzymes that mediate the removal of acetyl groups from a range of proteins, including nucleosomal histones. Histone deacetylase inhibitors have anti-cancer activities in vitro and in vivo and are used in the clinic for the treatment of advanced cutaneous T cell lymphoma. The molecular pathways targeted by these compounds are discussed with an emphasis on the effects of these compounds on retinoic acid signaling.