With a lifetime risk estimated to be one in eight in industrialized countries, breast cancer is the most frequent type of cancer among women worldwide. Patients are often treated with anti-estrogens, but it is common that some tumors develop resistance to therapy. The causation and progression of cancer is controlled by epigenetic processes, so there is an ongoing interest in research into mechanisms, genes and signaling pathways associating carcinogenesis with epigenetic modulation of gene expression. Given the fact that histone deacetylases (HDACs) have a great impact on chromatin remodeling and epigenetics, their inhibitors have become a very interesting field of research.

Aim

This review focused on the use of HDAC inhibitors as anticancer treatment and explains the mechanisms of therapeutic effects on breast cancer. We anticipate further clinical benefits of this new class of drugs, both as single agents and in combination therapy. Molecules such as suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid, trichostatin A, suberoylbis-hydroxamic acid, panobinostat, entinostat, valproic acid, sodium butyrate, SK7041, FTY720, N-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-2-propylpentanamide, Scriptaid, YCW1, santacruzamate A and ferrocenyl have shown promising antitumor effects against breast cancer. HDAC inhibitors consists an attractive field for targeted therapy against breast cancer. Future therapeutic strategies will include combination of HDAC inhibitors and chemotherapy or other inhibitors, in order to target multiple oncogenic signaling pathways. More trials are needed.