title: Critical review about MDM2 in cancer: Possible role in malignant mesothelioma and implications for treatment.
abstract: The tumor suppressor p53 regulates genes involved in DNA repair, metabolism, cell cycle arrest, apoptosis and senescence. p53 is mutated in about 50% of the human cancers, while in tumors with wild-type p53 gene, the protein function may be lost because of overexpression of Murine Double Minute 2 (MDM2). MDM2 targets p53 for ubiquitylation and proteasomal degradation. p53 reactivation through MDM2 inhibitors seems to be a promising strategy to sensitize p53 wild-type cancer cells to apoptosis. Moreover, additional p53-independent molecular functions of MDM2, such as neoangiogenesis promotion, have been suggested. Thus, MDM2 might be a target for anticancer treatment because of its antiapoptotic and proangiogenetic role. Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is an aggressive asbestos-related tumor where wild-type p53 might be present. The present review gives a complete landscape about the role of MDM2 in cancer pathogenesis, prognosis and treatment, with particular focus on Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, University of Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Loredana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Urso
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, University of Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Fiorella
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Calabrese
authors.affiliation: Medical Oncology 2, Istituto Oncologico Veneto IRCCS, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Adolfo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Favaretto
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, University of Padova, Italy; Medical Oncology 2, Istituto Oncologico Veneto IRCCS, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: PierFranco
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Conte
authors.affiliation: Medical Oncology 2, Istituto Oncologico Veneto IRCCS, Padova, Italy. Electronic address: giulia.pasello@ioveneto.it.
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pasello
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms; D008654:Mesothelioma; D000086002:Mesothelioma, Malignant; D051379:Mice; D051736:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-mdm2; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D051736:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-mdm2
keywords: Apoptosis; MDM2; Mesothelioma; Neoangiogenesis; p53