Calheiros, J., Silva, R., Barbosa, F., Morais, J., Moura, S. R., Almeida, S., Fiorini, E., Mulhovo, S., Aguiar, T. Q., Wang, T., Ricardo, S., Almeida, M. I., Domingues, L., Melo, S. A., Corbo, V., Ferreira, M. U., & Saraiva, L. (2025). A first-in-class inhibitor of homologous recombination DNA repair counteracts tumour growth, metastasis and therapeutic resistance in pancreatic cancer. Journal of experimental & clinical cancer research : CR, 44(1), 129. [DOI: 10.1186/s13046-025-03389-5]

Carvalho, C., Silva, R., Melo, T. M. V. D. P. E., Inga, A., & Saraiva, L. (2024). P53 and the Ultraviolet Radiation-Induced Skin Response: Finding the Light in the Darkness of Triggered Carcinogenesis. Cancers, 16(23), 3978. [DOI:10.3390/cancers16233978]

Calheiros, J., Raimundo, L., Morais, J., Matos, A. C., Minuzzo, S. A., Indraccolo, S., Sousa, E., Silva, M. C. D., & Saraiva, L. (2023). Antitumor Activity of the Xanthonoside XGAc in Triple-Negative Breast, Ovarian and Pancreatic Cancer by Inhibiting DNA Repair. Cancers, 15(24), 5718. [DOI:10.3390/cancers15245718]

Calheiros, J.; Corbo, V.; Saraiva, S. (2023) Overcoming therapeutic resistance in pancreatic cancer: Emerging opportunities by targeting BRCAs and p53. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA), 1878. 4. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2023.188914]

Bessa C, Loureiro JB, Barros M, Isca VMS, Sardão VA, Oliveira PJ, Bernardino RL, Herman-de-Sousa C, Costa MA, Correia-de-Sá P, Alves MG, Rijo P, Saraiva L. (2023) Counteracting Colon Cancer by Inhibiting Mitochondrial Respiration and Glycolysis with a Selective PKCδ Activator. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 24(6), 5710. [DOI: 10.3390/ijms24065710]

Almeida, J.; Mota, I.; Skoda, J.; Sousa, E.; Cidade, H.; Saraiva, L. (2022). Deciphering the Role of p53 and TAp73 in Neuroblastoma: From Pathogenesis to Treatment. Cancers, 14, 6212. [DOI: 10.3390/cancers14246212]

Loureiro, J. B., Ribeiro, R., Nazareth, N., Ferreira, T., Lopes, E. A., Gama, A., Machuqueiro, M., Alves, M. G., Marabini, L., Oliveira, P. A., Santos, M. M. M., & Saraiva, L. (2022). Mutant p53 reactivator SLMP53-2 hinders ultraviolet B radiation-induced skin carcinogenesis. Pharmacological research, 175, 106026. [DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2021.106026]

Lucie Curylová, Helena Ramos, Lucília Saraiva, Jan Škoda. (2021) Noncanonical roles of p53 in cancer stemness and their implications in sarcomas. Cancer Letters; Nov 3; 525:131-145. [DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2021.10.037]

Liliana Raimundo, Juliana Calheiros and Lucília Saraiva. (2021) Exploiting DNA Damage Repair in Precision Cancer Therapy: BRCA1 as a Prime Therapeutic Target. Cancers; 13(14), 3438. [DOI: 10.3390/cancers13143438]

Ana Sara Gomes, Helena Ramos , Alberto Inga , Emília Sousa and Lucília Saraiva. (2021) Structural and Drug Targeting Insights on Mutant p53. Cancers; 13(13), 3344. [DOI: 10.3390/cancers13133344]

Liliana Raimundo, Ângela Paterna, Juliana Calheiros, Joana Ribeiro, David Cardoso, Ilaria Piga, Susana Junqueira Neto, Denise Hegan, Peter M. Glazer, Stefano Indraccolo, Silva Mulhovo, José Luís Costa, Maria-José U. Ferreira and Lucília Saraiva. (2021) BBIT20 inhibits homologous DNA repair with disruption of the BRCA1-BARD1 interaction in breast and ovarian cancer. British Journal of Pharmacology; Apr 26, PMID: 33899955. [DOI: 10.1111/bph.15506]

Helena Ramos, Maria I.L. Soares, Joana Silva, Liliana Raimundo, Juliana Calheiros, Célia Gomes, Flávio Reis, Filipe A. Monteiro, Cláudia Nunes, Salette Reis, Bartolomeo Bosco, Silvano Piazza, Lucília Domingues, Petr Chlapek, Petr Vlcek, Pavel Fabian, Ana Teresa Rajado, A.T.P. Carvalho, Renata Veselska, Alberto Inga, Teresa M.V.D. Pinho e Melo  and Lucília Saraiva. (2021) A selective p53 activator and anticancer agent to improve colorectal cancer therapy. Cell Reports; 35(2), 108982. [DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.108982]

Joana B. Loureiro , Liliana Raimundo , Juliana Calheiros, Carla Carvalho, Valentina Barcherini, Nuno R. Lima, Célia Gomes, Maria Inês Almeida, Marco G. Alves, José Luís Costa, Maria M. M. Santos, and Lucília Saraiva. (2021) Targeting p53 for Melanoma Treatment: Counteracting Tumour Proliferation, Dissemination and Therapeutic Resistance. Cancers; 13(7), 1648. [DOI: 10.3390/cancers13071648]

Helena Ramos, Liliana Raimundo, Lucília Saraiva. (2020) p73: From the p53 shadow to a major pharmacological target in anticancer therapy. Pharmacological Research, 105245. [DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2020.105245]

Joana B. Loureiro, M. Abrantes, P.A. Oliveira, Lucília Saraiva. (2020) P53 in skin cancer: From a master player to a privileged target for prevention and therapy. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer;188438. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2020.188438].

Liliana Raimundo, Helena Ramos, Joana B Loureiro, Juliana Calheiros, Lucília Saraiva. (2020) BRCA1/P53: Two strengths in cancer chemoprevention. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer;1873(1):188339. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2020.188339].

Helena Ramos, Juliana Calheiros, Joana Almeida, Valentina Barcherini, Sónia Santos, Alexandra T P Carvalho, Maria MM Santos, Lucília Saraiva. (2020) SLMP53-1 Inhibits Tumor Cell Growth through Regulation of Glucose Metabolism and Angiogenesis in a P53-Dependent Manner. International Journal of Molecular Sciences 21 (2): 596-596. [DOI: 10.3390/ijms21020596].

Gomes AS, Ramos H, Gomes S, Loureiro JB, Soares J, Barcherini V, Monti P, Fronza G, Oliveira C, Domingues L, Bastos M, Dourado DFAR, Carvalho AL, Romão MJ, Pinheiro B, Marcelo F, Carvalho A, Santos MMM, Saraiva L. (2019) SLMP53-1 interacts with wild-type and mutant p53 DNA-binding domain and reactivates multiple hotspot mutations. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) Gen Subj. 16:129440. [DOI:10.1016/j.bbagen.2019.129440] 

Sara Gomes, Bartolomeo Bosco, Joana B. Loureiro, Helena Ramos, Liliana Raimundo, Joana Soares, Nair Nazareth, Valentina Barcherini, Lucília Domingues, Carla Oliveira, Alessandra Bisio, Silvano Piazza, Matthias R. Bauer, João P. Brás, Maria Inês Almeida, Célia Gomes, Flávio Reis, Alan R. Fersht, Alberto Inga, Maria M. M. Santos and Lucília Saraiva (2019) SLMP53-2 Restores Wild-Type-Like Function to Mutant p53 through Hsp70: Promising Activity in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Cancers 11, 1151. [DOI:10.3390/cancers11081151]

Sara Gomes, Liliana Raimundo, Joana Soares, Joana B. Loureiro, Mariana Leão, Helena Ramos, Madalena N. Monteiro, Madalena Pinto, Petr Chlapek, Renata Veselska, Emília Sousa, Lucília Saraiva (2019) New inhibitor of the TAp73 interaction with MDM2 and mutant p53 with promising antitumor activity against neuroblastoma. Cancer Letters 1;446:90-102. [DOI:10.1016/j.canlet.2019.01.014]

Monti P, Bosco B, Gomes S, Saraiva L, Fronza G, Inga A. (2019) Yeast As a Chassis for Developing Functional Assays to Study Human P53. J Vis Exp (150). [DOI:10.3791/59071]

Liliana Raimundo, Margarida Espadinha, Joana Soares, Joana B. Loureiro, Maria M. M. Santos, Lucília Saraiva (2018) Improving anticancer activity towards colon cancer cells with a new p53-activating agent. British Journal of Pharmacology [DOI:10.1111/bph.14468]

Pedro Brandão, Joana B. Loureiro, Sylvie Carvalho, Meriem Hadjer Hamadou, Sara Cravo, Joana Moreira, Daniela Pereira, Andreia Palmeira, Madalena Pinto, Lucília Saraiva, Honorina Cidade (2018) Targeting the MDM2-p53 protein-protein interaction with prenylchalcones: Synthesis of a small library and evaluation of potential antitumor activity. European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry 156:711-21 [DOI:10.1016/j.ejmech.2018.07.037]

Ana Sara Gomes, Filipa Trovão, Benedita Andrade Pinheiro, Filipe Freire, Sara Gomes, Carla Oliveira, Lucília Domingues, Maria João Romão, Lucilia Saraiva, Ana Luísa Carvalho (2018) The crystal structure of the R280K mutant of human p53 explains the loss of DNA binding. International Journal of Molecular Sciences 19, 1184. [DOI:10.3390/ijms19041184]

Ana Sara Gomes, Helena Ramos, Joana Soares, Lucília Saraiva (2018) p53 and glucose metabolism: an orchestra to be directed in cancer therapy. Pharmacological Research 131:75–86. [DOI:10.1016/j.phrs.2018.03.015]

Cláudia Bessa, Joana Soares, Liliana Raimundo, Joana B. Loureiro, Célia Gomes, Flávio Reis, Miguel L. Soares, Daniel Santos, Chetna Dureja, Saumya R. Chaudhuri, Cynthia Lopez-Haber, Marcelo G. Kazanietz, Jorge Gonçalves, Maria F. Simões, Patrícia Rijo, Lucília Saraiva (2018) Discovery of a small-molecule protein kinase Cδ activator with promising application in colon cancer therapy. Cell Death & Disease [DOI:10.1038/s41419-017-0154-9]

Joana Soares, Margarida Espadinha, Liliana Raimundo, Helena Ramos, Ana Sara Gomes, Sara Gomes, Joana B. Loureiro, Alberto Inga, Flávio Reis, Célia Gomes, Maria M. M. Santos, Lucília Saraiva (2017) DIMP53-1: A novel small-molecule dual inhibitor of p53-MDM2/X interactions with multifunctional p53-dependent anticancer properties. Molecular Oncology, 11(6):612-27. [DOI:10.1002/1878-0261.12051] 

Agostinho Lemos, Mariana Leão, Joana Soares, Andreia Palmeira, Madalena Pinto, Lucília Saraiva, Emília Sousa (2016) Medicinal Chemistry Strategies to Disrupt the p53-MDM2/MDMX Interaction. Medicinal Research Reviews, 1-56. [DOI: 10.1002/med.21393] 

Sara Gomes, Mariana Leão, Liliana Raimundo, Helena Ramos, Joana Soares, Lucília Saraiva (2016) p53-family interactions and yeast: together in anticancer therapy. Drug Discovery Today, 21(4):616-24. [DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2016.02.007]

Joana Soares, Liliana Raimundo, Nuno A.L. Pereira, Ângelo Monteiro, Sara Gomes, Cláudia Bessa, Clara Pereira, Glória Queiroz, Alessandra Bisio, João Fernandes, Célia Gomes, Flávio Reis, Jorge Gonçalves, Alberto Inga, Maria M.M. Santos, Lucília Saraiva (2016) Reactivation of wild-type and mutant p53 by tryptophanol-derived oxazoloisoindolinone SLMP53-1, a novel anticancer small-molecule. Oncotarget, 7(4):4326-43. [DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.6775]

Joana Soares, Liliana Raimundo, Nuno A. L. Pereira, Daniel J. V. A. dos Santos, Maria Pérez, Glória Queiroz, Mariana Leão, Maria M. M. Santos, Lucília Saraiva (2015) A tryptophanol-derived oxazolopiperidone lactam is cytotoxic against tumors via inhibition of p53 interaction with murine double minute proteins. Pharmacological Research, 95-96:42-52. [DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2015.03.006]

Joana Soares, Nuno A.L. Pereira, Ângelo Monteiro, Mariana Leão, Cláudia Bessa, Daniel J.V.A. dos Santos, Liliana Raimundo, Glória Queiroz, Alessandra Bisio, Alberto Inga, Clara Pereira, Maria M. M. Santos, Lucília Saraiva (2015) Oxazoloisoindolinones with in vitro antitumor activity selectively activate a p53-pathway through potential inhibition of the p53-MDM2 interaction. European Journal of Pharmacological Sciences, 66:138-147. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejps.2014.10.006]

Clara Pereira, Vitor Costa, L. Miguel Martins, Lucília Saraiva (2015) A yeast model of the Parkinson's disease-associated protein Parkin. Experimental Cell Research, 333(1):73-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2015.02.018] 

Mariana Leão, Sara Gomes, Cláudia Bessa, Joana Soares, Liliana Raimundo, Paola Monti, Gilberto Fronza, Clara Pereira, Lucília Saraiva (2015) Studying p53 family proteins in yeast: induction of autophagic cell death and modulation by interactors and small molecules. Experimental Cell Research, 330(1):164-177. [DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2014.09.028]

Mariana Leão, Joana Soares, Sara Gomes, Liliana Raimundo, Helena Ramos, Cláudia Bessa, Glória Queiroz, Sofia Domingos, Madalena Pinto, Alberto Inga, Honorina Cidade, Lucília Saraiva (2015) Enhanced cytotoxicity of prenylated chalcone against tumour cells via disruption of the p53-MDM2 interaction. Life Sciences, 142: 60-65. [DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2015.10.015]

Clara Pereira, Vanessa Lopes-Rodrigues, Isabel Coutinho, Marta P. Neves, Raquel T. Lima, Madalena Pinto, Honorina Cidade, Maria H. Vasconcelos, Lucília Saraiva (2014) Potential small-molecule activators of caspase-7 identified using yeast-based caspase-3 and -7 screening assays. European Journal of Pharmaceitical Sciences, 54:8-16. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejps.2013.12.017]

Mariana Leão, Sara Gomes, Joana Soares, Cláudia Bessa, Cláudia Maciel, Yari Ciribilli, Clara Pereira, Alberto Inga, Lucília Saraiva (2013) Novel simplified yeast-based assays of regulators of p53-MDMX interaction and p53 transcriptional activity. FEBS Journal. 280(24):6498-6507. [DOI: 10.1111/febs.12552]

Cláudia Bessa, Clara Pereira, Mariana Leão, Cláudia Maciel, Sara Gomes, Jorge Gonçalves, Manuela Corte-Real, Vítor Costa, Lucília Saraiva (2013) Using yeast to uncover the regulation of protein kinase Cδ by ceramide. FEMS Yeast Research, 13:700-705. [DOI: 10.1111/1567-1364.12069]

Mariana Leão, Sara Gomes, Pedraza-Chaverri J, Machado N, Sousa E, Pinto M, Alberto Inga, Clara Pereira, Lucília Saraiva (2013) α-Mangostin and Gambogic Acid as Potential Inhibitors of the p53-MDM2 Interaction Revealed by a Yeast Approach. Journal of Natural Products, 76(4):774-778. [DOI: 10.1021/np400049j]

Mariana Leão, Clara Pereira, Alessandra Bisio, Yari Ciribilli, Ana M. Paiva, Neuza Machado, Andreia Palmeira, Miguel X. Fernandes, Emilia Sousa, Madalena Pinto, Alberto Inga, Lucília Saraiva (2013) Discovery of a new small-molecule inhibitor of p53-MDM2 interaction using a yeast-based approach. Biochemical Pharmacology, 85(9):1234–1245. [DOI:10.1016/j.bcp.2013.01.032]

Clara Pereira, Mariana Leão, Joana Soares, Cláudia Bessa, Lucília Saraiva (2012) New therapeutic strategies for cancer and neurodegeneration emerging from yeast cell-based systems. Current Pharmaceutical Design, 18(27):4223-35. [DOI: 10.2174/138161212802430422]

Clara Pereira, Cláudia Bessa, Lucília Saraiva (2012) Endocytosis inhibition during H2O2-induced apoptosis in yeast. FEMS Yeast Research, 12:755-760. [DOI:10.1111/j.1567-1364.2012.00825.x]

Clara Pereira, Cláudia Bessa, Joana Soares, Mariana Leão, Lucília Saraiva (2012) Contribution of yeast models to neurodegeneration research. Journal of Biomedicine and Biotechnology, 2012:941232. [DOI:10.1155/2012/941232]

Diego F Gomez-Casati, Marina Clemente, Alberto Inga, Lucília Saraiva, Cláudia P. Spampinato. Contribution of Yeast and Plant Research for Improving Human Health. Journal of Biomedicine and Biotechnology, 2012:738436. [DOI:10.1155/2012/738436]

Clara Pereira, Isabel Coutinho, Joana Soares, Cláudia Bessa, Mariana Leão, Lucília Saraiva (2012) New insights into cancer-related proteins provided by the yeast model. FEBS Journal, 279:697-712. [DOI:10.1111/j.1742-4658.2012.08477.x.]

Lucília Saraiva*, Rui D Silva RD* (*Equally contributing authors), Isabel Coutinho, Jorge Gonçalves, Manuela Côrte-Real (2012) Yeast as a powerful model system for the study of apoptosis regulation by protein kinase C isoforms. Current Pharmaceutical Design, 18(17):2492-500. [DOI:10.2174/13816128112092492]

Rui D Silva, Stephen Manon, Jorge Gonçalves, Lucília Saraiva, Manuela Côrte-Real. The Importance of Humanized Yeast to Better Understand the Role of Bcl-2 Family in Apoptosis: Finding of Novel Therapeutic Opportunities. Current Pharmaceutical Design, 17(3):246-55. [DOI:10.2174/13816128112092492]  

Paulo MC Glória, Isabel Coutinho, Lídia M. Gonçalves, Cristina Baptista, Joana Soares, Ana S. Newton, Rui Moreira, Lucília Saraiva, Maria M. M. Santos. Aspartic vinyl sulfones: inhibitors of a caspase-3-dependent pathway. European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 46:2141-2146. [DOI:10.1016/j.ejmech.2011.02.067] 

Isabel Coutinho, Clara Pereira, Gil Pereira, Jorge Gonçalves, Manuela Côrte-Real, Lucília Saraiva (2011) Distinct regulation of p53-mediated apoptosis by protein kinase Ca, d, e and z: evidence in yeast for transcription-dependent and -independent p53 apoptotic mechanisms. Experimental Cell Research, 317:1147-1158. [DOI:10.1016/j.yexcr.2011.02.007]

Rui D Silva, Stephen Manon, Jorge Gonçalves, Lucília Saraiva, Manuela Côrte-Real (2011) Modulation of Bax mitochondrial insertion and induced cell death in yeast by mammalian protein kinase Cα. Experimental Cell Research, 317(6):781-90. [DOI:10.1016/j.yexcr.2010.12.001]

Isabel Coutinho, Gil Pereira, Mariana Leão, Jorge Gonçalves, Manuela Côrte-Real, Lucília Saraiva (2009) Differential regulation of p53 function by protein kinase C isoforms revealed by a yeast cell system. FEBS Letters, 583(22):3582–3588. [DOI:10.1016/j.febslet.2009.10.030]

Isabel Coutinho, Gil Pereira, MF Simões, Manuela Côrte-Real, Jorge Gonçalves, Lucília Saraiva (2009) Selective activation of protein kinase Cδ and ε by 6,11,12,14-tetrahydroxy-abieta-5,8,11,13-tetraene-7-one (coleon U). Biochemical Pharmacology, 78(5):449-459. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2009.04.026] 

Joana Soares, Joana Loureiro, Lucília Saraiva (2018) Keeping p53 Active: The Challenge of Cancer Therapy (Chapter 1); in Advances in Drug Development. Avid Science. [ISBN 978-93-86337-73-3]

Joana P Moreira, Helena Ramos, Sofia Salazar, Madalena M Pinto, Lucília Saraiva, Honorina Cidade (2018) Flavones: Promising Basis for Drug Development of Caspase Activators (Chapter 2); in Apoptosis. Avid Science.  [ISBN 978-93-86337-72-6]

Diogo Matias, Cláudia Bessa, M. Fátima Simões, Catarina P. Reis, Lucília Saraiva, Patrícia Rijo (2016) Natural products as lead Protein Kinase C modulators for cancer therapy, Studies in Natural Products Chemistry (Bioactive Natural Products), Volume 50, Elsevier Science Publishers – Amsterdam (in press). 

Johansson Bjorn, Lucília Saraiva, Manuela Corte-Real (2010) Nutrição e Crescimento Microbiano (Capítulo 9) In Microbiologia, Lidel - Edições Técnicas Lda. [ISBN 978-972-757-515-2]

Joana Soares, Mariana Leão, Cláudia Bessa, Sara Gomes, Cláudia Maciel, Liliana Raimundo, Nilma Harilal, Lucília Saraiva (2012) Humanized yeast: in the front line of anticancer drug discovery. Magazine da SPM, 2:29.12b.