Exploiting p53 status to enhance effectiveness of chemotherapy by lowering associated toxicity.

The central dilemma in chemotherapy is to eliminate the rapidly proliferating cancer cells, while leaving the “normal” cells alone as much as possible. Limiting the detrimental side effects of mitotic inhibitors on normal cells could significantly enhance successful chemotherapy [1]. Mitotic inhibitors often kill normal proliferating (cycling) cells such as bone marrow cells, hair follicles, mucosal and epithelial cells [1-3]. These side effects can be severe in some cases and limit the benefits of chemotherapy as well as suppress the desirability of this type of cancer therapy by certain patients. A central question remains how we can improve on chemotherapy but reduce its detrimental side effects.