TP53 and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: Given the fact that B19V induces apoptosis in order to release mature virions from the infected cells through the broken nuclear membrane [6], and considering several pieces of evidence suggesting that p53 is involved in the apoptotic pathway in B19-infected cells [36], it can be concluded that the persistence of B19V infection in HNSCC tumors may be considered as a direct result of TP53 mutation, a phenomenon that has already been reported in B19-positive bone marrow giant proerythroblasts [37] and anaplastic thyroid carcinoma tumors [38].