p53

Tumor suppressor genes by definition are genes that are coding for proteins acting as a break on cancer. This group of genes function as a break mechanism when cells accelerate towards cancer. In basic terminology, the role of tumor suppressors is to stop cancer cells. P53 is a tumor suppressor protein that in humans is encoded by the TP53 gene. p53 is important in multicellular organisms, where it regulates the cell cycle and thus directly functions as a tumor suppressor by stopping cell cycle or by killing the cancer cells by apotheosis.

From functional point of view, the p53 protein is a transcription factor that regulates multiple cellular processes in human and other high eukaryotes including cell proliferation, differentiation, cell cycle, and metabolism. The central roles played by p53 in tumor development made p53 an important tumor suppressor gene. As such, p53 has been described as "the guardian of the genome," "the guardian angel gene," and the "master watchman," referring to its role in conserving stability by preventing genome mutation.

Although p53 is a central tumor suppressor gene, cancer is a not a centralized disease. There are several different cancer types that may or may not be depended on the master player p53.

I won't buy a holly grail for the cure of cancer.

I won't also buy a "cureitall" drug for cancer.

http://p53.free.fr/index.html
http://www.scribd.com/doc/4010...