Compositions and methods are provided for treating diseases associated
with aberrant silencing of gene expression such as cancer by reestablishing the
gene expression through inhibition of DNA hypomethylation and histone deacetylase.
The method comprises: administering to a patient suffering from the disease a therapeutically
effective amount of a DNA methylation inhibitor such as a cysteine analog such
as decitabine, in combination with an effective amount of histone deacetylase inhibitor
such as hydroxamic acid, cyclic peptide, benzamide, butyrate, and depudecin.
