Metabolic alteration, a hallmark of cancer, allows cancer cells to adapt to their needs for rapid bioenergetics, increased biogenesis of macromolecules and maintenance of the redox balance.1 p53, as a tumor suppressor gene, regulates many metabolic pathways including glycolysis and mitochondrial respiration in tumors.2 p53 plays a central role in mitochondrial oxygen utilization, reactive oxygen species generation, and disposition.3,4. The gene discussed is TP53; the disease is cancer.