title: Biological and clinical role of p73 in neuroblastoma.
abstract: The p73 gene is a p53 homologue localized at 1p36.3, a chromosomal region frequently deleted in neuroblastoma. p73 was originally considered an oncosuppressor gene. However, it was soon realized that its mode of action did not resemble that of a classic anti-oncogene. The recent discovery of N-terminal truncated isoforms, with oncogenic properties, showed that p73 has a 'two in one' structure. Indeed, the full-length variants are strong inducers of apoptosis while the truncated isoforms inhibit the pro-apoptotic activity of p53 and of the full-length p73. This review summarizes some aspects of p73 biology with particular reference to its possible role in neuroblastoma.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Tumor Genetics, Istituto Nazionale per la Ricerca sul Cancro (IST), Largo Rosanna Benzi 10, 16132 Genova, Italy. massimo.romani@istge.it
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Romani
authors.forename: G P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Tonini
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Banelli
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Allemanni
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mazzocco
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Scaruffi
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Boni
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ponzoni
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pagnan
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Raffaghello
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ferrini
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Croce
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Casciano
mesh_terms: D017398:Alternative Splicing; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D016147:Genes, Tumor Suppressor; D006801:Humans; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D011379:Prognosis; D015996:Survival Rate; D000072160:Tumor Protein p73; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; C000606460:TP73 protein, human; D000072160:Tumor Protein p73; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins