The role of p53 in tumor progression

p53 mutation is a common event in tumors. The evidence that such mutation is an important step in the sequence of genetic changes which underly tumor progression is outlined. Such evidence includes the study of human tumors, animal tumor models and cell culture. In several instances, p53 mutation seems to be a late event. This is by no means a universal finding, and important reservations are stated concerning the role of p53 mutation in tumor progression.