Histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors (PXD101) for the treatment of cancer alone or in combination with chemotherapeutic agent

The present invention relates generally to methods for treating cancer. In one respect, the present invention relates to a method of treating a hematological cancer (e.g., multiple myeloma, leukemia, lymphoma) comprising administering to a patient in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a histone deacetylase inhibitor, for example, a histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor as described herein, for example, PXD-101. In another respect, the present invention relates to a method of treating cancer (e.g., solid tumour cancer, e.g., rectal cancer, colon cancer, ovarian cancer; hematological cancer, e.g., multiple myeloma, leukemia, lymphoma) comprising administering to a patient in need thereof, a first amount of a histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor, for example, a histone deacetylase inhibitor as described herein, for example, PXD-101 , and a second amount of an other chemotherapeutic agent, for example, an other chemotherapeutic agent selected from: an antibody against VEGF, Avastin®, an antibody against CD20, rituximab, bortezomib, thalidomide, dexamethasone, vincristine, doxorubicin, and melphalan, wherein the first and second amounts together comprise a therapeutically effective amount.