Another point that one has to consider is the diverse genetic equipment distinguishing even our small panel of hepatoma cells (e.g., p53 expression is not altered in HepG2 cells; no expression of p53 can be detected for Hep3B cells, and PLC/PRF/5 cells exhibit reduced p53 levels39), leading to distinct rates of apoptosis or altered regulation of cellular protein biosynthesis following virus infection. The gene discussed is TP53; the disease is hepatocellular carcinoma.