The histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors have emerged as novel therapies for cancer. Panobinostat (LBH 589, Novartis Pharmaceuticals) is a pan-deacetylase inhibitor that is being evaluated in both intravenous and oral formulations across multiple tumor types. Comparable to the other HDACs, panobinostat leads to hyperacetylation of histones and other intracellular proteins, allowing for the expression of otherwise repressed genes, leading to inhibition of cellular proliferation and induction of apoptosis in malignant cells. Panobinostat, analogous to other HDAC inhibitors, also induces apoptosis by directly activating cellular death receptor pathways. Preclinical data suggests that panobinostat has inhibitory activity at nanomolar concentrations and appears to be the most potent clinically available HDAC inhibitor. Here we review the current status of panobinostat and discuss its role in the treatment of solid tumors.