Abstract
Loss of p53 tumor-suppressor function is the most common abnormality in human cancer, which can result in enhanced presentation to immune cells of wild-type (wt)-sequence peptides from tumor p53 molecules, thus providing the rationale for wt p53 peptide-based cancer vaccines. We review evidence from preclinical murine tumor models and preclinical studies that led to the clinical introduction of wt p53 peptide-based vaccines for cancer immunotherapy. Overall, this review illustrates the complex process of wt p53 epitope selection and the issues and concerns involved in the application of p53-based vaccines for patients with cancer.
Financial & competing interests disclosure
Supported in part by NIH grants: 1PO1 CA109688 and 2PO1 DE12321 to TL Whiteside. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.
No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.