HDAC4 inhibition suppresses resistant prostate cancer in preclinical models
Published in Biology, Drugs development & discovery, Journals.
Published October 29, 2026.
A study published October 26 identifies HDAC4 as a potential drug target in castration-resistant prostate cancer. Researchers report that this protein helps cancer cells suppress a brake on cell division.
HDAC4 formed a regulatory complex with HDAC2 and YY1 that reduced expression of CDKN1B, the gene encoding p27. Disrupting the complex restored this pathway and promoted cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis in experimental models. The study also linked HDAC4 to CDCP1-associated growth signaling.
The HDAC4/5 inhibitor LMK-235 suppressed cancer-cell proliferation and inhibited tumor growth in animal experiments. In the tested androgen-receptor-negative models, the authors reported greater activity and cancer-cell selectivity than with the broad HDAC inhibitor SAHA.
These are preclinical findings. The reported limited systemic toxicity in animals does not establish safety in people, and tumor suppression in experimental models does not demonstrate improved patient survival. Clinical studies would be needed to determine whether targeting this pathway offers a useful treatment.
Source: Xie et al., Cell Death & Disease. Published October 26, 2026. DOI: 10.1038/s41419-026-09300-0.