The effective role of sirtuins in cancer is still controversial, because some of them seem to have tumor-promoter as well as tumor-suppressor properties. Thus, few patents describing SIRT inhibitors have been found in 2012 - 2014 period. Despite the still active debate on their role as direct or indirect activators of SIRT1, sirtuin-activating compounds are actually subjected to intense research for the ability to treat neurodegenerative diseases, metabolic disorders, inflammation, vascular system injuries, wound healing and endothelial dysfunctions. A great number of clinical trials are reported with either SIRT inhibitors or activators, thus it is possible that in the foreseeable future one or more of them will enter in the clinical arena.