TP53 and hepatocellular carcinoma: Furthermore, we have demonstrated that Gankyrin knock-down results in an increased expression of apoptosis genes BAX and FAS, both of which are downstream of TP53. Down-regulation of Gankyrin also induces apoptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma cells with wild type TP53 [35] whilst increased expression of Gankyrin inhibits apoptosis by causing degradation of TP53 protein and reduced transcription of its downstream apoptotic genes [35].