Emerging role of histone deacetylase inhibitors in the treatment of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

Abstract

Although current immunochemotherapy has increased the therapeutic efficacy in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), there are still some patients who present unfavorable outcomes. Novel effective treatment strategies are needed to improve the prognosis of DLBCL. In this review, we discussed the functional mechanisms and therapeutic applications of histone deacetylases inhibitors (HDIs) in DLBCL from preclinical and clinical studies. The mechanistic rationale of HDIs involved a wide range of effects including the regulation of transcription factors, tumor suppressors, and cell surface molecules. Histone deacetylases inhibitors as monotherapy performed limited activity in the treatment of DLBCL in present clinical trials, but its combination with other regimens has emerged as potential treatment candidates with generally acceptable and manageable adverse effects. Further investigation on the anti-tumor mechanisms of HDIs and ongoing clinical trials will hopefully facilitate the application of HDIs in patients with DLBCL.

Keywords:

• Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma
• histone deacetylase inhibitor
• cancer therapy
• epigenetics

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation under Grant [No. 81270598, No. 81473486, and No. 81770210]; Key Research and Development Program of Shandong Province under Grant No. [2018CXGC1213]; Technology Development Projects of Shandong Province under Grant [No. 2017GSF18189 and No. 2016GSF201029]; Technology Projects of Jinan under Grant [No. 201704092]; Taishan Scholar Foundation of Shandong Province; Shandong Provincial Engineering Research Center of Lymphoma; and Key Laboratory for Kidney Regeneration of Shandong Province.