A Chemical Inhibitor of p53 That Protects Mice from the Side Effects of Cancer Therapy

• DOI: 10.1126/science.285.5434.1733
• Publication Date: 2002-07-27T09:37:20Z
• Authors: Pavel G. Komarov; Elena A. Komarova; Roman V. Kondratov; Konstantin Christ...; John S. Coon; Mikhail V. Chernov; Andrei V. Gudkov
• Keywords: Cancer Therapy

Chemotherapy and radiation therapy for cancer often have severe side effects that limit their efficacy. Because these are in part determined by p53-mediated apoptosis, temporary suppression of p53 has been suggested as a therapeutic strategy to prevent damage normal tissues during treatment p53-deficient tumors. To test this possibility, small molecule was isolated its ability reversibly block p53-dependent transcriptional activation apoptosis. This compound, pifithrin-alpha, protected mice from the lethal genotoxic stress associated with anticancer without promoting formation Thus, inhibitors may be useful drugs reducing other types induction.