The ATM gene (mutated in the disease ataxia telangiectasia) activates the p53 tumor suppressor protein in response to DNA damage, explaining the higher incidence of cancer in AT patients.

ATLANTA — The US Institute of Medicine (IOM) is looking into whether polio vaccines contaminated with the simian virus SV40 — thought to inactivate p53 and Rb — and given 40 years ago have caused a ...