Several strategies are being investigated to target p53 in cancer therapy:
1. Restoring Wild-Type p53 Function: Small molecules that can reactivate wild-type p53 in cells with mutant p53 are being developed. These molecules aim to restore the normal function of p53, thereby inducing cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in cancer cells.
2. Targeting p53 Pathways: Therapies that target pathways downstream of p53, such as MDM2 inhibitors, can stabilize p53 and enhance its tumor-suppressive functions.
3. Gene Therapy: Gene therapy approaches aim to introduce a functional copy of the p53 gene into cancer cells, thereby restoring its tumor-suppressive capabilities.
