TP53 is one of the most frequently-mutated and deleted tumor suppressors in cancer, with a dramatic correlation with dismal prognoses. In addition to genetic inactivation, the p53 protein can be functionally inactivated in cancer, through post-transductional modifications, changes in cellular compartmentalization, and interactions with other proteins. Here, we review the mechanisms of p53 functional inactivation, with a particular emphasis on the interaction between p53 and IκB-α, the NFKBIA gene product.
Keywords: IκB-α; functional inactivation; p53; tumor suppressors.