title: Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors: A Novel Therapeutic Weapon Against Medullary Thyroid Cancer?
abstract: Medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) is highly malignant, metastatic and recurrent, remaining generally incurable, and responsible for approximately 14% of all thyroid carcinoma-related deaths. MTC can metastasize to lymph nodes, trachea and distant organs, such as brain, lungs, liver and bones. MTC cells are resistant to chemotherapy and traditional external therapies are not showing definite clinical benefits. Scientists are trying to understand the molecular background of carcinogenesis and histone deacetylase (HDAC) seems to play a potential role to gene transcription. On the other hand, HDAC inhibitors (HDACI) hamper the HDAC action giving promising results as new anticancer drugs. The purpose of this review was to evaluate the current status of research considering the role of HDACIs in MTC treatment and to present the latest trends in MTC treatment protocols.
  
  
  
  This literature review was accomplished using the MEDLINE database. The key words/phrases were; HDACI, medullary thyroid cancer, HDACI in the therapy of neuroendocrine tumors, HDACI in MTC. Forty-one articles were selected from the total number of the search's results. Only sixteen papers focus on the use of HDACIs in the treatment of MTC. In order to extract our conclusions, we took into account some studies whose main topic does not strictly refer to the MTC but they contain noteworthy and useful information. Only English articles published up to August 2016 were assessed and used for writing this review.
  
  
  
  Molecules, such as valproid acid (VPA), vorinostat, suberoyl bis-hydroxamic acid (SBHA), depsipeptide, belinostat, m-carboxycinnamic acid bis-hydroxamine (CBHA) and AB3 have shown promising antitumor effects against MTC.
  
  
  
  HDACIs represent a promising field for targeted therapy both for its anticancer properties, as well as for augmenting radiotherapeutic modalities. More trials are needed.
authors: Second Department of Propedeutic Surgery, "Laiko" General Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece x_damaskos@yahoo.gr.|Laboratory of Experimental Surgery and Surgical Research N.S. Christeas, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors: Christos
authors: C
authors: Damaskos
authors: Second Department of Propedeutic Surgery, "Laiko" General Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece x_damaskos@yahoo.gr.
authors: Nikolaos
authors: N
authors: Garmpis
authors: Blood Transfusion Department, Aretaieion Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian Athens University, Athens, Greece.
authors: Serena
authors: S
authors: Valsami
authors: Laboratory of Experimental Surgery and Surgical Research N.S. Christeas, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors: Eleftherios
authors: E
authors: Spartalis
authors: Second Department of Propedeutic Surgery, "Laiko" General Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors: Efstathios A
authors: EA
authors: Antoniou
authors: Department of Thoracic Surgery, "Attikon" General Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors: Periklis
authors: P
authors: Tomos
authors: Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors: Stefanos
authors: S
authors: Karamaroudis
authors: Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors: Theofano
authors: T
authors: Zoumpou
authors: Laboratory of Experimental Surgery and Surgical Research N.S. Christeas, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors: Vasilios
authors: V
authors: Pergialiotis
authors: Laboratory of Experimental Surgery and Surgical Research N.S. Christeas, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.|Colorectal Department, General Surgery, The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust, Harlow, U.K.
authors: Konstantinos
authors: K
authors: Stergios
authors: 1st Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors: Constantinos
authors: C
authors: Michaelides
authors: Second Department of Propedeutic Surgery, "Laiko" General Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors: Konstantinos
authors: K
authors: Kontzoglou
authors: Laboratory of Experimental Surgery and Surgical Research N.S. Christeas, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors: Despina
authors: D
authors: Perrea
authors: Laboratory of Experimental Surgery and Surgical Research N.S. Christeas, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors: Nikolaos
authors: N
authors: Nikiteas
authors: Second Department of Propedeutic Surgery, "Laiko" General Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors: Dimitrios
authors: D
authors: Dimitroulis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018278:Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine / Q000188:drug therapy*; D056572:Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D056572:Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors
keywords: HDAC; acetylasation; cancer; epigenetics; histone; inhibitors; medullary; review; targeted; therapy; thyroid