The important role of the histone acetyltransferases p300/CBP in cancer and the promising anticancer effects of p300/CBP inhibitors.

Histone acetyltransferases p300 (E1A-associated protein p300) and CBP (CREB binding protein), collectively known as p300/CBP due to shared sequence and functional synergy, catalyze histone H3K27 acetylation and consequently induce gene transcription. p300/CBP over-expression or over-activity activates the transcription of oncogenes, leading to cancer cell growth, resistance to apoptosis, tumor initiation and development. The discovery of small molecule inhibitors targeting p300/CBP histone acetyltransferase activity, bromodomains, dual inhibitors of p300/CBP and BRD4 bromodomains, as well as proteolysis-targeted-chimaera p300/CBP protein degraders, marks significant progress in cancer therapeutics.