TP53 and cancer: However, with persistent or chronic inflammation,clearing and repairing such cells remain unchecked, thus leading tosevere DNA damage with multiple mutational events that pave the wayfor cancer.6 Following inflammation, oncogenicviruses can counter the protective action of p53, retinoblastoma tumor-suppressingpathways.7 The addition of environmentalexposure to mutagens accelerates the process of viral tumorigenesis.