TP53 and inflammatory bowel disease: We noted that p53, the main regulator of the proliferative cycle in the epithelial layer of the enteric mucosa, demonstrated a significant role in IBD-related carcinogenesis; the protein was frequently mutated in IBD-affected mucosa, and earlier than the development of evident dysplastic lesions [15], following a model of inflammation-dependent carcinogenesis (field cancerization) [23].