In Mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) p53 activation does not induce MEC CSC apoptosis, it reduces stemness properties such as self-renewal by regulating Bmi-1 expression. Therapeutic activation of p53 by silencing Bmi-1, prevented CSC-mediated tumor recurrence in preclinical trials. This evidence concerns the gene BMI1 and mucoepidermoid carcinoma.