Escape from p53-mediated tumor surveillance in neuroblastoma: switching off the p14(ARF)-MDM2-p53 axis.
A primary failsafe program against unrestrained proliferation and oncogenesis is provided by the p53 tumor suppressor protein, inactivation of which is considered as a hallmark of cancer. Intriguingly, mutations of the TP53 gene are rarely encountered in neuroblastoma tumors, suggesting that alternative p53-inactivating lesions account for escape from p53 control in this childhood malignancy. Several recent studies have shed light on the mechanisms by which neuroblastoma cells circumvent the p53-driven antitumor barrier. We review here these mechanisms for evasion of p53-mediated growth control and conclude that deregulation of the p14(ARF)-MDM2-p53 axis seems to be the principal mode of p53 inactivation in neuroblastoma, opening new perspectives for targeted therapeutic intervention.
Center for Medical Genetics, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent B-9000, Belgium. Tom.VanMaerken@UGent.be
T
T
Van Maerken
J
J
Vandesompele
A
A
Rihani
A
A
De Paepe
F
F
Speleman
D000818:Animals; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D051736:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-mdm2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D025803:Tumor Suppressor Protein p14ARF / Q000378:metabolism*; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000378:metabolism*
D025803:Tumor Suppressor Protein p14ARF; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D051736:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-mdm2