TP53 and cancer: Mutations in the TP53 gene are among the most common genetic alterations in several human malignancies.32 Somatic TP53 mutations occur in several types of cancer at rates from approximately 38-50% in ovarian, esophageal, colorectal, head and neck and lung cancers to about 5% in primary leukemia, sarcoma, testicular cancer, malignant melanoma, and cervical cancer.33 Alterations in the TP53 gene cause functional loss of p53, a tumour suppressor protein.