P53, Immunology

Abstract

P53 is one of the most frequently mutated suppressor genes in human cancers. P53 normally functions as a transcription factor that is stabilized and activated by various genotoxic and cellular stress signals leading to the cell cycle arrest and apoptosis of damaged cells. P53 is often referred to as "the guardian of the genome." In most cancers, p53 becomes functionally deficient. In addition, mutant p53 may acquire dominant negative activity and oncogenic properties. P53 remains an attractive target for cancer therapy, and strategies for targeting p53 include gene therapy to restore its functions, inhibition of p53-MDM2 interaction, restoration of wild-type p53, p53 based vaccines and targeting of the p53 family of proteins. Some of these therapies are in clinical trials. Novel strategies for p53-targeted therapy are under development.