On the basis of these mechanisms, clinically relevant p53 immunoreactivity would not be expected in HPV related cervical carcinoma and SIL and this is shown in our current study which also concurs with previous reports suggesting that the expression of p53 is decreased in lesions infected with intermediate and high risk HPV due to the differential ability of HPV E6 proteins to bind to and degrade p53 [33,34]. This evidence concerns the gene TP53 and cervical carcinoma.