TP53 and cancer: While the roles of p53 in apoptosis and cell cycle have been the ones most studied in the context of cancer, p53 can also play significant roles in programmed cell death (PCD) pathways other than apoptosis and in cellular adaptation to metabolic and environmental stress.[6] Autophagy is considered type II PCD and is such an adaptive mechanism with a Janus-like role in cell survival and cell death.[7, 8] While adaptive autophagy may sustain survival of cell including cancer cell, sustained autophagy can result in cell death.