30 years and a long way into p53 research
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Updated: Jun 20, 2026

Yeast As a Chassis for Developing Functional Assays to Study Human P53
Published on: August 4, 2019
1International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon, France. hainaut@iarc.fr
Abstract:
Among the 278,092 publications indexed into PubMed in 1979, a handful of articles stand out as the foundation of one of the most profound forays into the molecular basis of carcinogenesis: the discovery of the p53 tumour-suppressor protein. In the 30 years since then, understanding of p53 has progressed from obscure oncogene to key tumour-suppressor gene with clinical potential. Yet, p53 research has not followed a straight course. In this Historical Review, we describe how the 1979 discovery has shaped our view of the molecular basis of cancer, and identify some crucial steps ahead to transfer the wealth of knowledge accumulated on p53 into applications to cancer prevention and treatment.
Insights
The discovery of the p53 tumor-suppressor protein in 1979 revolutionized cancer research. Continued investigation into p53
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Oncology
- Genetics
Background:
- The discovery of the p53 tumor-suppressor protein in 1979 marked a pivotal moment in cancer research.
- Initial understanding of p53 evolved significantly over three decades.
Observation:
- p53 research has not followed a linear progression since its discovery.
- The protein's role has shifted from an oncogene to a critical tumor-suppressor gene.
Findings:
- The 1979 discovery fundamentally altered the perception of the molecular underpinnings of cancer.
- Accumulated knowledge on p53 holds significant clinical potential.
Implications:
- Further research is essential to translate p53 knowledge into effective cancer prevention strategies.
- Translating p53 insights into novel cancer treatments remains a key objective.
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