Targeting mutant p53 for efficient cancer therapy

The TP53 tumour suppressor gene is mutated in close to half of all human tumoursMost TP53 mutations are missense mutations leading to single amino acid substitutions in the p53 proteinSmall molecules that reactivate missense-mutant p53 and induce tumour cell death have been identified by various approachesTwo mutant-p53-reactivating compounds are being tested in clinical trialsReactivation of nonsense-mutant TP53 by induction of translational readthrough has been demonstrated with aminoglycoside antibioticsNovel anticancer drugs that reactivate mutant p53 should have wide clinical applicability