Treatment of cells with HNHA could elicite histone hyperacetylation resulting in an up-regulation of cell cycle arrest, p21 transcription, and an inhibition of HT1080 cell invasion. HNHA was able to inhibit in-vitro HDAC enzyme activity as well as proliferation of human fibrosarcoma cells (HT1080).

Several HDAC inhibitors, including MS-27-275 and a hydroxyamide-based HDAC inhibitors such as SAHA have been investigated extensively and shown to inhibit tumor growth in vivo.