p53: its alteration and gallbladder cancer.

Gallbladder cancer (GBC) is the most common malignancy of the biliary tract. Despite the recent advancements in the understanding of cancer biology the disease still remains a therapeutic challenge with poor survival, and with early surgical resection as the only powerful treatment. Understanding the molecular events in gallbladder carcinogenesis may provide a novel targeted therapeutic approach. Of these, alterations in the tumour suppressor gene, p53, are commonly observed in most human cancers. However, its impact on the pathogenesis of GBC remains obscure. This study attempts to outline the p53 structure, function and its alterations, with special attention to GBC.