TP53 and liver cancer: In response to DNA DSB, DNA-PKcs is activated and interacts with Ku80 to mediate DBS repair.25 However, in instances of prolonged insult, especially in chronic metabolic damage, DNA-PKcs is activated and phosphorylates p53,26 which promotes mitochondrial injury through the induction of mitochondrial apoptosis in liver cancer.27 Accordingly, the DNA-PKcs/p53 pathway is a pro-apoptosis signal.