Abstract / Summary
p53 is a tumor suppressor involved in cell-cycle regulation and DNA repair. Studies have shown that altered p53 expression in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is associated with a poor prognosis and increased tumor aggressiveness, suggesting it could be considered a potential prognostic marker. A search was performed using keywords such as oral squamous cell carcinoma, TP53, and p53 therapies in the PubMed and Web of Science databases, with a timeframe from 2020 to 2025. In this review, we examined various therapies targeting p53 that have been proposed in recent years. These therapies have been tested in vitro, in vivo, and in some cases, through clinical trials. Their goal is to restore the conformation and activity of mutated p53 by identifying small molecules that restore p53 function and eliminate mutated cells. Although some of these therapies show promising results, further clinical studies are needed to assess their efficacy and safety in OSCC patients.