Figure 6A illustrates that the E6 transcripts were detected in the transformed FH and FC cells with however lower levels than in the parental HeLa and CaSki cells. These data suggest that the transfer of viral oncogenes is efficient and functional. To more thoroughly scrutinize the role of the transferred E6 oncogenes as inhibitors of p53 expression, we immunoblotted for p53 and one of its targets, p21. Accordingly, the p53 and p21 levels of the transformed HPFs decreased substantially, similar to the decrease in donor cancer cells (figure 6B). This evidence concerns the gene TP53 and cancer.