TP53 and cancer: In contrast to the uncontrolled proliferation of cancer cells, in aging tissue, a senescence program is frequently activated, which suppresses cell proliferation, through the p53-p21 and p16Ink4a-Rb pathways6,7 and is accompanied by activated β-galactosidase8, global alteration of H3K9me3 abundance9,10, induction of senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) factor activity11 and disturbed immune ecosystem12.