RITA - a small-molecule anticancer drug that targets p53

Abstract

The first tumour-suppressor gene to be identified was p53. Reactivation of p53 and induction of tumour cell apoptosis (RITA) is a small molecule that inhibits the growth of a wild-type p53 colon carcinoma cell line with minimal effect on a cell line without the wild-type p53. RITA increased p53 in human tumour cell lines that expressed wild-type p53 (colon, osteosarcoma and fibro-sarcoma cells). This was due to an increased half-life of RITA. In immuno-deficient mice, RITA 0.1 mg/kg i.p. for 5 days suppressed the growth of the wild-type p53 colon carcinoma tumour by 40% without any apparent effect on the tumour without the wild-type p53. The development of RITA for the treatment of wild-type p53-containing cancers should continue.

Keywords::

• colon cancer
• immunodeficient mice
• NSC-652287
• p53
• RITA
• tumour cell lines