Natural Modulators of the TP53 Pathway

What is it about?

The transcription factor p53, often called the “guardian of the genome,” is critical for preserving genomic integrity. Mutations in the TP53 gene are found in approximately half of all human malignancies, including breast, colon, lung, liver, prostate, bladder, and skin cancers. p53 is activated by a wide range of cellular stress signals and orchestrates specific cellular responses based on the context and nature of the stress. As a tumor suppressor, p53 controls cancer initiation and progression by regulating cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, senescence, and DNA repair. Beyond its classical role in genome surveillance, p53 is now recognized as a dynamic signaling hub whose functions can be therapeutically modulated in cancer.

Featured Image

Photo by digitale.de on Unsplash

Photo by digitale.de on Unsplash

Why is it important?

Natural products derived from medicinal plants represent a rich source for discovering and developing novel therapeutic and preventive agents against cancer. Several natural compounds have been reported to target mutant p53 in cancer cells, offering a potentially effective strategy for modulating the p53 signaling pathway.