Targeting TP53 to Treatment of Cancers: Chance and Challenge

Abstract

P53 is capable of controlling cell proliferation, senescence and apoptosis, as well as DNA repair through regulation associated genes expression. Nearly 50% of human malignancies harbor mutations in TP53 gene, which were identified as a common feature of many cancers, often leading to the accumulation of abnormal cells and uncontrolled cell growth. Research into therapeutic strategies targeting mutp53 began nearly 20 years ago. However, few drugs have entered clinical trials, and with the exception of China's Gendicine, none have yet been approved for direct patient treatment. With the development of p53-specific targeted therapies and drug delivery systems, targeting P53 to develop effective cancer treatment strategies has been focused on by researchers in recent years. This review mainly summarizes the relationship between P53 and cancer, lists some examples to introduce cancer therapy targeting P53, and analyzes the current chance and challenge of P53 therapy in cancer. The purpose of this paper is to provide new ideas and directions for the research of targeting P53 in cancer.