p53 mutations in human cholangiocarcinoma: a review

The reported mortality from intrahepatic bile duct tumours is increasing markedly in industrialised countries, for reasons that remain unknown. Inactivation of the tumour suppressor gene p53, is the commonest genetic abnormality in human cancer and has been implicated in the genesis of cholangiocarcinoma in various immunohistochemical and molecular epidemiological investigations, including gene sequencing studies. The structure and function of p53 and its role in linking cancer to specific carcinogens by way of mutational signatures is reviewed. The findings of previous p53 studies and their relevance in human cholangiocarcinoma are summarised.