SAHA

Meaning of SAHA: SAHA belongs to a drug class that works by altering how tightly DNA is packaged within a cell, rather than damaging the DNA directly.

Definition of SAHA

SAHA is an abbreviation for suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid, more commonly known by its generic name vorinostat, an oral medication belonging to a class of drugs called histone deacetylase inhibitors. It is used to treat cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma that primarily affects the skin, particularly when the disease has persisted or progressed after other treatments.

SAHA works by blocking histone deacetylase, an enzyme that normally helps control how tightly DNA is packaged within a cell's nucleus. By altering this packaging, SAHA changes which genes are active within the cell, an effect that can help slow the growth of and lead to the death of cancer cells.

Because SAHA's mechanism involves altering gene activity broadly rather than targeting a single specific abnormality, its effects are not limited to a single cancer type, and treatment with SAHA is generally accompanied by monitoring for effects such as changes in blood counts and fatigue.