Histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) represent useful tools in the study of biology of selected malignant cells and they also have a potential in the treatment. Histone deacetylation caused by TEL/AML1 fusion protein in the genotypically defined subgroup of paediatric acute lymphoblastic leukaemia is one of the proposed malignant transformation pathways.
Experimental treatment of TEL/AML1-positive leukaemic cells with HDACi supports this theory and confirms the potential of HDACi in the treatment of this leukaemia subtype.