vorinostat + bexarotene

**Vorinostat + bexarotene** is an investigational **combination therapy** of two small-molecule drugs: vorinostat, a histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor, and bexarotene, a retinoid X receptor (RXR) agonist. Both agents are individually approved for use in cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) and have shown activity as monotherapies. The rationale for the combination is based on preclinical and clinical evidence that pairing an HDAC inhibitor (vorinostat) with an RXR agonist (bexarotene) leads to cooperative activation of gene transcription and increased apoptosis in malignant T-cells. Clinical trials in CTCL patients refractory to other treatments indicate that this combination can be administered with manageable toxicity if lower doses than monotherapy are used. Most common adverse effects include hypothyroidism, hypertriglyceridemia, and fatigue[1][2][3].