The 1993 Walter Hubert Lecture: The role of the p53 tumour-suppressor gene in tumorigenesis
1994
The Role of the p53 Tumour-Suppressor Gene in Cancer
publication
Evidence: high
Author Information
Author(s): A.J. Levine, M.E. Perry, A. Chang, A. Silver, D. Dittmer, M. Wu, D. Welsh
Primary Institution: Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University
Hypothesis
The p53 tumour-suppressor gene plays a critical role in preventing tumorigenesis by regulating the cell cycle and apoptosis in response to DNA damage.
Conclusion
The p53 gene is mutated in a significant percentage of human tumors, leading to a loss of its protective functions against cancer.
Supporting Evidence
- About 60% of human cancers have mutations in the p53 gene.
- Mice with mutations in both p53 alleles develop cancer within 6-9 months.
- Cells lacking p53 are at least one million times more likely to permit DNA amplifications.
Takeaway
The p53 gene helps stop cells from growing when they are damaged, and when it doesn't work, it can lead to cancer.
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