TP53 and neoplasm: Furthermore, the overexpression of wild-type p53 protein in human tumour specimens, as well as histologically benign lesions without p53 mutations, suggests a role for overexpression of p53 protein through overlapping mechanisms, idependent of actual p53 mutations (Barnes et al, 1992; Chozick et al, 1994b; Kurtkaya-Yapicier et al, 2002).