Alterations in p53 tumor suppressor gene in lung cancer

Cancer is a multistep genetic disease with accumulation of mutations in gen es involved in the regulation of cell proliferation. In lung cancer, mutati on of genes such are Rbl, p53, myc or ras are found frequently. The p53 tum or suppressor gene is involved in the regulation of genetic stability after DNA damage. It has been found that frequency, spectrum and distribution of p53 mutations in lung cancer are determined by tobacco. So far, there is no clear cut data concerning the association of p53 mutati on and either response to therapy or prognosis of the patient. Gene therapy using viral vectors expressing wild type p53 open new interesting perspect ive for lung cancer.