HDAC Inhibitor Valproic Acid as an Effective Therapy for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

OBJECTIVES To investigate: * the mechanism of Valproic Acid (VPA)-induced apoptosis in B-CLL * the ability of VPA in combination with standard chemotherapy or new antitumor agents to induce a synergistic antitumor effect in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells * the clinical efficacy of VPA in previously treated CLL patients. This will be an example of a translational research study where the results of our laboratory studies will be applied to a clinical trial in the CLL clinic at CancerCare Manitoba.