Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is a treatment-refractory subtype of human cancer arising from stratified epithelium of the skin, lung, esophagus, oropharynx, and other tissues. A unifying feature of SCC is high-level expression of the p53-related protein p63 (TP63) in 80% of cases. The major protein isoform of p63 expressed in SCC is DNp63a, an N-terminally truncated form which functions as a ke...

After the identification of p73, a second homologue of the human p53 tumor suppressor gene has been reported and named p63/p73L/p51/p40/CUSP/KET. We have investigated the hypotheses that: (a) p63 is mutated in diverse types of human cancers; and (b) p63 functions in the same pathway as p53 and p73 in the process of carcinogenesis; therefore, mutations in these three genes would be mutually excl...

PURPOSE To determine the growth potential of p63-positive cell clusters maintained in human limbal epithelial sheets. METHODS Intact human limbal epithelial sheets were isolated from corneoscleral rims and cultured with or without being rendered into single cells by trypsinization on either plastic or 3T3 fibroblast feeder layers. Clonal growth on 3T3 fibroblast feeder layers was compared bet...

Ankyloblepharon, ectodermal defects, cleft lip/palate (AEC) syndrome is a rare autosomal dominant disorder caused by mutations in the p63 gene, essential for embryonic development of stratified epithelia. The most severe cutaneous manifestation of this disorder is the long-lasting skin fragility associated with severe skin erosions after birth. Using a knock-in mouse model for AEC syndrome, we ...

P63 is a gene product required in cell cycle regulation which plays vital roles in tumor differentiation. Aims of the present study were to assess the frequency, pattern, sensitivity and specificity of two p63 protein clones P63 4A4 and P63 4A4+Y4A3 in squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs). Thirty cases of head and neck region SCC diagnosed on the basis of HandE staining were examined along with 60 c...

Protein expression of p63 is used to differentiate prostate cancer from benign mimickers. Recent studies suggest that it may also distinguish aggressive prostate cancer with down-regulated expression occurring in men with more advanced disease. We conducted a prospective study among 298 men ages 51 to 84 years who were diagnosed with prostate cancer in the Physicians' Health Study in 1983 to 20...

p63 is a close relative of the p53 tumor suppressor and transcription factor that modulates cell fate. The full-length isoform of p63, containing a transactivation (TA) domain (TAp63) is an essential proapoptotic protein in neural development. The role of p63 in epithelial development is also well established; however, its precise function during neural differentiation remains largely controver...

We have demonstrated that tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) binds specifically to human vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) in a functionally relevant manner, both increasing plasminogen activation and decreasing tPA inhibition (Ellis, V., and Whawell, S. A. (1997) Blood 90, 2312-2322; Werner, F., Razzaq, T. M., and Ellis, V. (1999) J. Biol. Chem. 274, 21555-21561). To further understand this ...

TP63 gene encodes p63, which is a major transcription factor of the epithelial system. Mutations in underlie variety autosomal dominantly-inherited ectodermal dysplasia syndromes, which, most cases, share several symptoms including cleft lip/palate. In this study, we analyzed child with certain showing hypotrichosis, oligodontia, and hypoplastic nails, but did not have We identified novel heter...

p63 delegates during skin development A molecular sibling of the cancer-fighting protein p53 orchestrates development of the epidermis by stimulating expression of a chromatin-reorganizing protein, Fessing et al. reveal. Although it doesn’t receive the same attention as its more famous sibling, p63 performs an equally important job. Mice lacking the protein die shortly after birth from dehydrat...