TP53 and cancer: The HPV contributes to cancer pathogenesis by the formation of a protein complex between the host p53 and the HPVE6 protein, resulting in blockage of the p53 suppressor action.[5] The neutralization of the cellular retinoblastoma tumor suppressor (pRB) and the p53 tumor suppressor proteins by the HPV E6 and E7 oncogenes induces the expression of p16.[6,7] Hence, p16 expression is considered a marker of high-risk HPV serotype infection.