Results obtained thus far indicate that in the investigated lung cancer cell lines, curcumin completely inhibits the over-expression of these survival signals (Fig. 4E-H) independent of the p53 status and the concentration of nicotine, strongly suggesting a preventive action of curcumin against nicotine-induced promotion and progression of lung cancer through up-regulation of antiapoptotic molecules. The gene discussed is TP53; the disease is lung cancer.