Special Issue on p53

The tumour suppressor p53 is a fundamental transcription factor regulating life and death of cells in response to a number of stimuli and particularly in response to genotoxic damage. Loss of p53 expression is observed in a large number of tumours, and plays a major role in tumour development and response to therapy. The recent identification of related genes poses new questions on what is now recognised as a p53 transcription factor family. It is fundamental that both researchers and clinicians are aware of the recent knowledge on the molecular mechanisms involved in p53 family regulation and on the pathway they regulate, both in physiological and pathological conditions. This issue of Cell Death and Differentiation contains a series of essential and up-to-date reviews and commentaries written by some of the world's most recognized specialists in the field, discussing all the new aspects of this fast moving field.