Accumulation of Nuclear p53 and Tumor Progression in Bladder Cancer

Mutations of the p53 gene are the most common genetic defect in human tumors 1 . The p53 gene functions as a tumor-suppressor gene and more specifically as a cell-cycle regulator 2 . Levels of p53 protein increase in response to damage to DNA, arresting the cell cycle and allowing time for the repair of DNA. Mutations of the p53 gene occur in a high percentage of invasive transitional-cell carcinomas of the bladder 3 and appear to be an early event in the formation of carcinoma in situ 4 . They are much less frequent in noninvasive papillary tumors 5 , 6 . Mutations of the . . .