Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 25, 2026

Yeast As a Chassis for Developing Functional Assays to Study Human P53
14:57

Yeast As a Chassis for Developing Functional Assays to Study Human P53

Published on: August 4, 2019

MEK'ing the most of p53 reactivation therapy in melanoma

John T Lee1, Meenhard Herlyn

  • 1Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA.

The Journal of Investigative Dermatology
|January 14, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Restoring the tumor suppressor p53, without genetic mutations, offers a new therapeutic avenue for melanoma. Combining p53 reactivation with MEK inhibition shows promise for sustained tumor regression.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cancer Therapeutics

Background:

  • Melanoma often exhibits functionally repressed p53 without direct mutations.
  • The pool of effective kinase-based drug targets for cancer is diminishing.
  • p53 is an underutilized target for novel cancer therapies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the therapeutic potential of reactivating p53 in melanoma.
  • To investigate the combined efficacy of p53 reactivation and MEK inhibition in melanoma treatment.

Main Methods:

  • Investigating p53's functional status in melanoma.
  • Evaluating strategies for p53 reactivation.
  • Assessing the synergistic effects of p53 reactivation with MEK inhibitors.

Main Results:

  • p53 is repressed in melanoma independent of mutation.
  • Reactivating p53 is a viable strategy for tumor regression in other cancers.
  • Combined p53 reactivation and MEK inhibition demonstrates therapeutic promise.

Conclusions:

  • Targeting p53 represents a promising, largely untapped strategy for melanoma treatment.
  • Combination therapy involving p53 reactivation and MEK inhibition warrants further investigation for melanoma.

More Related Videos

A 3D Organotypic Melanoma Spheroid Skin Model08:49

A 3D Organotypic Melanoma Spheroid Skin Model

Published on: May 18, 2018

Generation of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells from Human Melanoma Tumor-infiltrating Lymphocytes10:03

Generation of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells from Human Melanoma Tumor-infiltrating Lymphocytes

Published on: November 11, 2016

Related Concept Videos

Abnormal Proliferation02:23

Abnormal Proliferation

Under normal conditions, most adult cells remain in a non-proliferative state unless stimulated by internal or external factors to replace lost cells. Abnormal cell proliferation is a condition in which the cell's growth exceeds and is uncoordinated with normal cells. In such situations, cell division persists in the same excessive manner even after cessation of the stimuli, leading to persistent tumors. The tumor arises from the damaged cells that replicate to pass the damage to the daughter...
Targeted Cancer Therapies02:57

Targeted Cancer Therapies

The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against specific...
Tumor Immunotherapy01:27

Tumor Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy is a treatment that boosts or manipulates the immune system to fight diseases, including cancer. For instance, by stimulating an immune response through vaccinations against viruses that cause cancers, like hepatitis B virus and human papillomavirus, these diseases can be prevented. Nonetheless, some cancer cells can avoid the immune system due to their rapid mutation and division. The immune response to many cancers involves three phases: elimination, equilibrium, and escape.