KCNJ12 and cancer: Moreover, it provides evidence for the potential existence of new additional tumor suppressor genes (and potentially also oncogenes) coded in the centromeric portion of chromosome 17p, proximal to TP53. In this regard, it should be noted that several cancer associated genes (e.g.: KCNJ12, MAP2K3, and USP22) are coded in this chromosomal region, the first gene systematically deleted at this breakpoint region being a gene of unknown function (FAM27L).