Clinical trials were to begin on a novel approach to cancer treatment, announced Professor Ronald Breslow (Columbia university, US) at the Royal Society of Chemistry's annual conference in Manchester last month. The treatment used histone deacetylase inhibitors, which prevented the accelerated growth and development of cancer cells. This effectively turned the tumour cell back into a normal one, he said. In addition, Professor Breslow added, this treatment was less likely to destroy healthy cells.