Histone deacetylase inhibitors as potential therapeutic agents for the treatment of malignant mesothelioma.

Histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACIs) represent one of the most promising, recently developed classes of anticancer agents already approved by the U.S. FDA. The effectiveness of these new drugs has currently being explored in a variety of cancer cell lines, in vitro, animal models, in vivo, as well as in clinical trials. Malignant mesothelioma (MM) is a rare aggressive malignancy with a median overall survival of 12 months when the current chemotherapy regimen, cisplatin-pemetrexed, is applied. This disappointing overall survival has encouraged the experimental use of novel pharmaceutical agents, including HDACIs. In this aspect, the present review is aimed to summarize the existing data regarding the potential utility of HDACIs as therapeutic targets for the treatment of MM. Taking into consideration the research investigations so far, both in vitro and in vivo studies have documented encouraging results. Promising results are also being expected by ongoing clinical trials that concern combination of chemotherapy with HDACIs against MM.