Unravelling mechanisms of p53-mediated tumour suppression

Nat Rev Cancer. 2014 May;14(5):359-70. doi: 10.1038/nrc3711. Epub 2014 Apr 17.

Abstract

p53 is a crucial tumour suppressor that responds to diverse stress signals by orchestrating specific cellular responses, including transient cell cycle arrest, cellular senescence and apoptosis, which are all processes associated with tumour suppression. However, recent studies have challenged the relative importance of these canonical cellular responses for p53-mediated tumour suppression and have highlighted roles for p53 in modulating other cellular processes, including metabolism, stem cell maintenance, invasion and metastasis, as well as communication within the tumour microenvironment. In this Opinion article, we discuss the roles of classical p53 functions, as well as emerging p53-regulated processes, in tumour suppression.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis
  • Cell Cycle Checkpoints
  • Cellular Senescence
  • DNA Damage
  • Genes, Tumor Suppressor*
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness
  • Neoplasm Metastasis
  • Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction
  • Stem Cells / metabolism
  • Transcription, Genetic
  • Transcriptional Activation
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / genetics
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / metabolism*

Substances

  • TP53 protein, human
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53