Synergistic interaction between the novel histone deacetylase inhibitor ST2782 and the proteasome inhibitor bortezomib in platinum-sensitive and resistant ovarian carcinoma cells

►Synergism occurs between bortezomib and a novel histone deacetylase inhibitor. ►Synergism was associated with increased apoptotic cell death. ►p53-transcriptional transactivation inhibition enhanced the synergism ►Knockdown of wild-type p53 in IGROV-1 cells reduced synergism. ►The transactivation-deficient mutant p53 is a determinant of the synergism.