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Nature Medicine 8, 1196 - 1198 (2002)
doi:10.1038/nm1102-1196

Converting p53 from a killer into a healer

Andrei V. Gudkov1

  1. Department of Molecular Biology Lerner Research Institute Cleveland Clinic Foundation Cleveland, Ohio, USA e-mail: gudkov@ccf.org


Selenium-containing compounds are in phase 2 and 3 clinical trials for prostate cancer prevention, although it is unclear how they work. A study suggests that selenium can facilitate DNA repair by activating the p53 tumor suppressor in an unusual way.


Cancer prevention is an ultimate goal of oncology. This is especially desirable as even successful cancer treatment is a painful and unpleasant experience frequently followed by severe disabilities.