The histone deacetylase inhibitor LBH589 enhances the anti-myeloma effects of chemotherapy in vitro and in vivo

Panobinostat (LBH589) is a potent histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACi) that has shown anti-tumor activity in preclinical studies in both solid and hematological malignancies. We evaluated the anti-multiple myeloma (MM) effects of LBH589 alone and with melphalan or doxorubicin using MM cell lines and our human MM xenograft model LAGλ-1. LBH589 treatment resulted in increased acetylation of histones, induction of caspase cleavage, inhibition of cell proliferation and synergistic anti-MM effects with melphalan or doxorubicin in vitro. LBH589 with melphalan or doxorubicin also showed significantly enhanced anti-myeloma activity in vivo. These findings provide the basis for clinical development of these combination therapies.