title: CCR 20th Anniversary Commentary: Expanding the Epigenetic Therapeutic Portfolio.
abstract: Epigenetic targets have emerged as an exciting area for drug discovery. The discovery that histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors had marked anticancer activity in T-cell lymphoma gave impetus to the field. In a phase I study published in Clinical Cancer Research in March 2002, romidepsin (depsipeptide), a potent HDAC inhibitor, was found to be tolerable, with a side effect profile that was later understood to be characteristic of this class of agents. Evidence of activity in this key phase I trial provided momentum for the further study of epigenetic agents.
authors.affiliation: Developmental Therapeutics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland. batess@helix.nih.gov.
authors.forename: Susan E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Bates
authors.affiliation: Developmental Therapeutics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland.
authors.forename: Robert W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Robey
authors.affiliation: Investigational Drug Branch, Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland.
authors.forename: Richard L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Piekarz
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D047630:Depsipeptides; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D056572:Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D047630:Depsipeptides; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D056572:Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic