HDAC8 and liver cancer: HDAC8 plays a multifunctional role in cancer progression by acting on both histone and nonhistone substrates.[29] Many studies support the tumorigenic effect of HDAC8, and overexpression of HDAC8 has been found in various cancers, such as gastric cancer, liver cancer, and acute lymphoblastic leukemia.[44] Elimination or pharmacological inhibition of the HDAC8 gene can suppress cell proliferation, inhibit colony formation, and induce cell cycle arrest in cancer.[29] HDAC8 has been implicated in a variety of immune escape strategies.