Abstract
We have reported that heat as well as X-rays induced p53-centred signal transduction. The p53 molecule determines the fate of cells, especially apoptosis. Wild-type (wt) p53 cells are resistant to heat as compared with the mutated-type (m) p53 cells. Apoptosis is efficiently induced in the wtp53 cells by heat through the activation of Bax and Caspase-3, not but mp53 cells. Therefore, we proposed that wtp53 patients would be more suitable for hyperthermic therapy than mp53 patients. To enhance apoptosis in mp53 cells, however, we succeeded the establishing new cancer therapies against mp53 cells using chemical chaperon therapy with glycerol and peptide therapy with p53 C-terminal peptide. In addition, we applied siRNA or gene therapy with p53-targeted genes to mp53 and p53-deficient cells. It is our hope to show that these new therapies prove more effective as cancer therapies as soon as possible.
