How Vorinostat works

Vorinostat Inhibits the histone deacetylase HDAC1, HDAC2 and hda C3 and hda at nanomolar concentrations (IC50<86nM) Enzymatic activity of C6(. These enzymes catalyze the removal of acetyl groups on histone lysine residues. In some cancer cells, hdac is overexpressed, or hdac is abnormally recruited to oncogenic transcription factors, resulting in reduced core nucleosome histone acetylation. By inhibiting histone deacetylase, vorinostat causes the accumulation of acetylated histones and induces cell cycle arrest and/or apoptosis in some transformed cells. The mechanism of vorinostat's anti-tumor effects has not been fully determined.