Experimental Cancer Drugs May Halt Events That Lead To
Cardiac Hypertrophy and Heart Failure

(Philadelphia, PA) - The events that lead to cardiac hypertrophy,
the enlargement of heart muscle cells, may be stopped by histone deacetylase
(HDAC) inhibitors, a class of therapeutic agents currently under development
as cancer drugs, according to researchers at the University of Pennsylvania
School of Medicine. Cardiac hypertrophy is one of the leading causes of
congestive heart failure, the most common diagnosis given for discharged hospital
patients in the United States.

In the September issue of Journal of Clinical Investigation, the Penn
researchers suggest novel genetic causes for - and new therapeutic agents against
- cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure. Furthermore, the researchers demonstrate
that anti-HDAC drugs can block the development of hypertrophy in animal models.

"In our studies, we determined that valproic acid, an HDAC inhibitorthe University
of Pennsylvania Health System (created in 1993 as the nation's first integrated
academic health system). Penn's School of Medicine is ranked #2 in the nation
for receipt of NIH research funds; and ranked #4 in the nation in U.S. News
& World Report's most recent ranking of top research-oriented medical schools.
Supporting 1,400 fulltime faculty and 700 students, the School of Medicine is
recognized worldwide for its superior education and training of the next generation
of physician-scientists and leaders of academic medicine.

Penn Health System consists of four hospitals (including its
flagship Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, consistently rated one
of the nation's "Honor Roll" hospitals by U.S. News & World Report), a faculty
practice plan, a primary-care provider network, three multispecialty satellite
facilities, and home health care and hospice.