p53 as a therapeutic target

Since the discovery of p53, a vast wealth of knowledge on its function and regulation has been accumulated. It is known that it is a key tumour suppressor and that its function is lost in many types of cancers, either by mutation or by excessive negative regulation. Recently, several discoveries have re-energised p53 as a therapeutic target as it has been shown that reintroduction of functional p53 into tumours has a therapeutic benefit. These encouraging results clearly justify the search for small molecules that diminish negative regulation of p53 in tumour cells, where p53 is not mutated as well as compounds that reactivate mutant p53. Important findings have been made to deal with both situations. Additionally, some of the small molecules identified may also help reduce the side effects of commonly used cancer therapeutics. These studies are still in their infancy and require further therapeutic validation, but the future appears bright for finally harnessing p53's tumour suppressing ability.