Histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACIs) are a relatively new drug class with important effects on the epigenetic regulation in cancer, inducing cancer cell death, apoptosis induction, and cell cycle arrest. Even though HDACIs have, to date, received approval for mainly hematologic malignancies, there are plentiful studies in cervical cancer setting with encouraging results. The present review summarizes all studies with HDACIs in cervical cancer from the emerging data in labor research to the possible applicability in clinical practice.

Cervical carcinoma is one of the most common cancers among women globally. Histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACIs) constitute anticancer drugs that, by increasing the histone acetylation level in various cell types, induce differentiation, cell cycle arrest, and apoptosis. The aim of the current review is to study the role of HDACIs in the treatment of cervical cancer. A literature review was conducted using the MEDLINE and LIVIVO databases with a view to identifying relevant studies. By employing the search terms “histone deacetylase” and “cervical cancer”, we managed to identify 95 studies published between 2001 and 2023. The present work embodies the most up-to-date, comprehensive review of the literature centering on the particular role of HDACIs as treatment agents for cervical cancer. Both well-established and novel HDACIs seem to represent modern, efficacious anticancer drugs, which, alone or in combination with other treatments, may successfully inhibit cervical cancer cell growth, induce cell cycle arrest, and provoke apoptosis. In summary, histone deacetylases seem to represent promising future treatment targets in cervical cancer.