When the TP53 gene was disrupted in these cells, they grew faster and became more resistant to radiation, reinforcing the idea that p53 helps prevent cancerous growth. Another key discovery was a ...

The ATM gene (mutated in the disease ataxia telangiectasia) activates the p53 tumor suppressor protein in response to DNA damage, explaining the higher incidence of cancer in AT patients.

Loss of normal p53 function has been associated with resistance to both chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Introduction of wild-type (wt) p53 by means of adenoviral vectors has been shown to inhibit ...