Cancer is often driven by the dysregulation of key genetic pathways. The p53 pathway is one of the most frequently altered in cancer. The p53 protein acts as a guardian of the genome, initiating cell cycle arrest, DNA repair, or apoptosis in response to DNA damage. Mutations in the p53 gene can disable these protective mechanisms, allowing damaged cells to proliferate. Another critical pathway is the RB pathway, which regulates the cell cycle. The retinoblastoma protein (RB) controls the transition from the G1 to the S phase of the cell cycle. Mutations in the RB gene or its regulatory proteins can lead to uncontrolled cell division.
