p73: Structure and function

Alteration of the p53 tumor suppressor gene is a common, if not general, ob servation in human malignant tumors. p73 Is a novel member of the p53 famil y at chromosome 1p36.3, at which locus frequent defects are seen in many tu mors including neuroblastoma. Besides structural similarities, the fact tha t p73 functions in the regulation of the cell cycle and apoptosis promotes the expansion of the research field concerning p53-associated tumor progres sion. In this paper, we review the structure and function of p73 as well as the mutational status in various human tumors. In addition, possibilities for new therapeutic applications with p73 for cancer cell control are discu ssed.