Also important is the observation that ESPL1+/hyp mice alone in the presence of an active p53 do not develop lymphomas and also have a longer tumor-free life span compared to wild type mice, possibly suggesting that increased levels of apoptosis and p53 mediated downstream checkpoint pathways prevents the accumulation of genetic instability and DNA damage accumulation and prevent cancer progression in these mice. The gene discussed is ESPL1; the disease is cancer.