Arsenic and an Old Place: Rescuing p53 Mutants in Cancer

Cancer Cell. 2021 Feb 8;39(2):140-142. doi: 10.1016/j.ccell.2021.01.012.

Abstract

Tumor suppressor p53 lacks conventional drug binding pockets that would facilitate rescue of cancer-driving mutations. In this issue, Chen et al. discover a new role for an old drug, arsenic trioxide, in binding and stabilizing p53. The arsenic atom binds in a conserved, cryptic site and reactivates multiple p53 mutants.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Comment

MeSH terms

  • Arsenic Trioxide
  • Arsenic* / toxicity
  • Humans
  • Mutation
  • Neoplasms* / drug therapy
  • Neoplasms* / genetics
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / genetics

Substances

  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53
  • Arsenic
  • Arsenic Trioxide