P53 researches and cancer therapy

Since the discovery of P53 in 1979 as a tumor antigen until today that has been established as an important tumor suppressor gene, over sixty four thousand paper and research reports were published in PubMed including this protein name. Although the results of these investigations have been helped to clarify the structure, function and regulation of P53, they also led to more ambiguities and questions about this protein. Identification of different isoforms of P53, the discovery of a P53 natural antisense (Wrap53) and recent findings about its different roles in processes such as longevity, aging and metabolism have made P53 remain attractive for study. Delivering the wild type P53 gene to p53 mutant cancer cells, introduction of small molecules that reactivate mutant p53 or suppress its important regulator, MDM2, are among the cancer therapies developed based on p53. The present article attempts to review the history and functions of p53 and discuss about the treatment strategies have been developed based on its antitumor properties.