Current patent status of histone deacetylase inhibitors

Abstract

Histone deacetylases (HDACs) alter the acetylation status of the amino terminal region of histone proteins, which are complexed with DNA in the nucleosome. This acetylation status determines DNA accessibility and, in turn, influences gene expression. The inappropriate recruitment of HDACs may be one mechanism by which oncogenes can alter gene expression in favour of excessive proliferation and this makes inhibition of HDACs a potential target for the development of small molecule anticancer agents. There are several HDAC inhibitors currently in cancer clinical trials and approximately twenty research organisations with ongoing programmes in this field. This review examines the HDAC patent literature from 1997 to mid-2002 with some discussion of primary literature and older citations when appropriate. The review is divided into the structural classes of known HDAC inhibitors that include the non-peptidic hydroxamic acids, cyclic peptides, benzamides, butyric acid analogues and electrophilic ketones.

• α-ketoamides
• ααα-trifluoromethyl ketones
• acetyldinaline
• acute promyelocytic leukaemia (APL)
• antineoplastic
• antiprotozoal
• apicidin
• butyric acid
• CI-994
• cancer
• chromatin
• depsipeptide
• FK228
• FR901228
• histone deacetylase (HDAC)
• histone H4
• HDAC inhibitor
• HDAC-like protein (HDLP)
• MS-275
• NVP-LAQ824
• oxamflatin
• retinoic acid
• scriptaid
• suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA)