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Antitumor mechanisms when pRb and p53 are genetically inactivated

Oncogene volume 34, pages 4547–4557 (2015)Cite this article

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Abstract

pRb and p53 are the two major tumor suppressors. Their inactivation is frequent when cancers develop and their reactivation is rationale of most cancer therapeutics. When pRb and p53 are genetically inactivated, cells irreparably lose the antitumor mechanisms afforded by them. Cancer genome studies document recurrent genetic inactivation of RB1 and TP53, and the inactivation becomes more frequent in more advanced cancers. These findings may explain why more advanced cancers are more likely to resist current therapies. Finding successful treatments for more advanced and multi-therapy-resistant cancers will depend on finding antitumor mechanisms that remain effective when pRb and p53 are genetically inactivated. Here, we review studies that have begun to make progress in this direction.

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Acknowledgements

Work in the authors’ laboratory was supported by NIH grants RO1CA127901 and RO1CA131421. HZ is a recipient of DOD PCRP Postdoctoral Fellowship (PC121837), and LZ acknowledges support from the Irma T Hirschl Career Scientist Award.

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  1. Department of Developmental and Molecular Biology, and Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, and Medicine, The Albert Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center and Liver Research Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA

    L Zhu, Z Lu & H Zhao

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  1. L Zhu
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Correspondence to L Zhu.

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Zhu, L., Lu, Z. & Zhao, H. Antitumor mechanisms when pRb and p53 are genetically inactivated. Oncogene 34, 4547–4557 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1038/onc.2014.399

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