P53-Binding protein 1: A new player for tumorigenesis and a new target for breast cancer treatment

Breast cancer remains the most common and fatal cancer in women and has been recognized as a genetic disease. Recently, accumulating evidences have showed that p53-binding protein 1 (53BP1) plays an important role in DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) repair induced by radiation. In vitro experiments have indicated its interaction with many other genes or proteins for tumor suppression or tumorigenesis via pathways associated with DNA repair, cell-cycle control, apoptosis and cell senescence. In vivo studies also showed suppressive effect of 53BP1 on tumor initiation and progression. Therefore, we hypothesize that 53BP1 has a profound effect on suppressing breast cancer as a tumor suppressor and will be an important new biomarker for breast cancer prognosis. Furthermore, 53BP1 gene therapy will be a potential therapeutic strategy for breast cancer.