Importantly, even though p53 has been shown to be capable of influencing DR-induced apoptosis signaling in certain cancers, mainly by influencing DR expression itself,6, 7 in most cases p53 appears to be dispensable for apoptosis induction by DRs.8 Hence, stimulation of the extrinsic apoptosis pathway is bound to be more effective than chemotherapy for treating cancers with TP53 mutations. This evidence concerns the gene TP53 and cancer.