Figure 1. Cartoon illustrating the concept of p53-based cyclotherapy.

The p53 tumour suppressor is mutated in about 50% of human solid tumours in adults. Hence, administering a small-molecule p53 activator to patients bearing p53-mutant tumours would selectively activate p53 in normal tissues, inducing a mild reversible cell-cycle arrest. Subsequent treatment with conventional anticancer drugs should then kill proliferating cancer cells, whilst leaving normal cells untouched.