P53-MEDIATED APOPTOSIS FOR THE THERAPEUTIC TREATMENT OF DISEASES

摘要

The invention is directed to a methods of reducing the viability of a proliferating mammalian cells such as cancer cells. In one method cells deficient in p53 activity and in p53 suppressor activity of one or more p53-interacting regulatory proteins cell viability is reduced by increasing the level or activity of p53 in the cell. In another method viability of cells exhibiting p53 activity and p53 suppressor activity of one or more p53-interacting regulatory proteins is reduced by reducing the suppressor activity of the one or more p53-interacting regulatory proteins. Further, cell viability is reduced in cells deficient in p53 activity and exhibiting p53 suppressor activity of one or more p53-interacting regulatory proteins by a method that includes: (a) increasing the level or activity of p53 in the cell, and (b) reducing the suppressor activity of the one or more p53-interacting regulatory proteins. Also, included are methods of selectively reducing the viability of proliferating cancer cells compared to nonproliferating normal cells within a mixed population of cells and to methods of selectively reducing the viability of chronic granulocytic leukemia cells within a sample of proliferating bone marrow cells.