Choosing pan-HDAC or selective HDAC inhibitors for anticancer therapy.

Dysfunction of histone deacetylases (HDACs) is linked to oncogenesis and progression. The expression of classical HDACs varies across different cancers. In some cancers, isozymes of one HDAC class are overactive, whereas in others, multiple classes are involved. HDAC inhibitors (HDACi), which are promising cancer therapeutics, fine-tune the aberrant behaviour of HDACs. These inhibitors are either selective or pan-inhibitors, and it is uncertain which type is the most suitable for treatment. Herein, the optimal solution to this ambiguity is provided based on solid evidence. We suggest that the HDAC overexpression pattern in a specific cancer is key to choosing the optimal therapeutic regimen.