title: MDM2 inhibitors for cancer therapy.
abstract: The tumor suppressor p53 is a powerful antitumoral molecule frequently inactivated by mutations or deletions in cancer. However, half of all human tumors express wild-type p53, and its activation by antagonizing its negative regulator murine double minute 2 (MDM2) might offer a new therapeutic strategy. Proof-of-concept experiments have demonstrated the feasibility of this approach in vitro but the development of pharmacological inhibitors has been challenging. Recently, potent and selective small-molecule MDM2 inhibitors have been identified. Studies with these compounds have strengthened the concept that selective, non-genotoxic p53 activation is a viable alternative to current cytotoxic chemotherapy but clinical validation is still pending. Here, the new developments in the quest for pharmacological p53 activators are reviewed with an emphasis on small-molecule inhibitors of the p53-MDM2 interaction.
authors.affiliation: Discovery Oncology, Roche Research Center, Hoffmann-La Roche Inc., Nutley, NJ 07110, USA. Lyubomir.vassilev@roche.com
authors.forename: Lyubomir T
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Vassilev
mesh_terms: D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D008954:Models, Biological; D008958:Models, Molecular; D015394:Molecular Structure; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016376:Oligonucleotides, Antisense / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D010879:Piperazines / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D011485:Protein Binding; D051736:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-mdm2 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D013141:Spiro Compounds / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000378:metabolism*; D044767:Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D007093:Imidazoles; D016376:Oligonucleotides, Antisense; D010879:Piperazines; D013141:Spiro Compounds; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D001569:Benzodiazepines; C482205:nutlin 3; C497206:MDM2 protein, human; D051736:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-mdm2; D044767:Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases