: a tumor suppressor gene that in an inactivated form tends to be associated with a high risk of certain cancers
Examples of p53 in a Sentence
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In humans, p53 is inactive or mutated in about half of all cancers.
—
Jenny Lehmann, Discover Magazine, 17 June 2025
Elephants seem to have 20 different copies of a tumor-suppressing gene known as p53.
—New Atlas, 20 May 2025
This was striking and unexpected because researchers had assumed that p53 has an anticancer effect by directly regulating the activity of genes.
—Viviane Callier, Quanta Magazine, 21 Mar. 2025
Targeting p53’s overseers Researchers are also investigating other proteins that interact with p53 as potential treatment options.
—Prosper Obed Chukwuemeka, The Conversation, 20 Feb. 2025
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Jenny Lehmann, Discover Magazine, 17 June 2025
Elephants seem to have 20 different copies of a tumor-suppressing gene known as p53.
—New Atlas, 20 May 2025
This was striking and unexpected because researchers had assumed that p53 has an anticancer effect by directly regulating the activity of genes.
—Viviane Callier, Quanta Magazine, 21 Mar. 2025
Targeting p53’s overseers Researchers are also investigating other proteins that interact with p53 as potential treatment options.
—Prosper Obed Chukwuemeka, The Conversation, 20 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for p53
Cite this Entry
“P53.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/p53. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
p53
noun
: a tumor suppressor gene that in a defective form tends to be associated with a high risk of certain cancers (as of the colon, lung, and breast)
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