Histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi), the ongoing epigenetic agents to enhance chemotherapy sensitization

Epigenetic alterations play a pivotal role in tumor initiation and progression. Histone deacetylases (HDACs) are a family of epigenetic enzymes that affect gene transcription by inducing histone deacetylation, and then regulate fundamental cellular processes including proliferation, differentiation, and development. It is reported that the expression of histone deacetylase (HDAC) is abnormal in multiple cancer. Targeting HDAC to develop inhibitors is an effective way in treating cancer and enhancing sensitization of tumor to chemotherapeutic drugs. In this chapter, we mainly summarize the different classes of histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) and discuss how HDACi combine with chemotherapeutic drugs to enhance their sensitization.