Even though p16 acts as a tumor suppressor in most cellular contexts, as oncoprotein E7 expressed by human papillomavirus (HPV) mediate the degradation of retinoblastoma protein (Rb) 2, a target of the CDK4/6 kinase, the tumor suppressor role of p16 is abolished in HPV transformed cervical cancers. The gene discussed is CDK4; the disease is cervical cancer.