Combining Targeted Therapies for Thoracic Cancers
September 26th, 2006
Romidepsin is a new anticancer agent that belongs to a family of drugs called histone deacetylase inhibitors. These drugs can turn on genes in cancer cells that regulate cell growth and induce cell death (apoptosis). Unfortunately, the protein product of one of the genes activated by romidepsin, called p21, also interferes with the drug’s ability to induce apoptosis. Researchers think that combining romidepsin with other anticancer drugs may improve its ability to kill cancer cells.