This book is about the p53 gene, one of the most frequently mutated or
deleted genes in human cancers. The frequent occurrence of inactivated
p53 implicates this gene product in the genesis of many human cancers.
The p53 gene can suppress the growth of cancer cells and the
transformation process by oncogenes. The p53 protein is a transcription
factor that can repress or activate promoters containing one of three
p53 DNA-binding motifs. The activity of p53 is regulated by
phosphorylation and other transcription factors. Replacement of the p53
function or restoration of the p53 biochemical pathway is a focus of
gene therapy.