Extrahepatic biliary cancer is a specific type of biliary cancer that occurs outside the liver. It is considered rare, quite serious and often symptomless until later stages. The average age at diagnosis is 72. Extrahepatic biliary cancer typically involves the bile ducts, which carry bile from the liver and gallbladder to the small intestine. It can also involve the gallbladder, which plays a role in the digestion of fats by storing, concentrating and releasing bile as needed. One of the main genetic factors that contribute to biliary cancer is the mutation of Kras, a gene that regulates cell growth and division. Mutated Kras can cause cells to grow uncontrollably and form tumors. Another important genetic factor is the mutation of p53, a gene that normally acts as a guardian of the genome and triggers cell death or repair when DNA damage occurs. Mutated p53 can impair this function and allow cells to survive and accumulate more mutations. “[...] the exact role of p53 in the development of extrahepatic biliary cancer remains elusive.” In a new editorial paper, researchers Munemasa Nagao, Kenta Mizukoshi, Shinnosuke Nakayama, Mio Namikawa, Yukiko Hiramatsu, Takahisa Maruno, Yuki Nakanishi, Tatsuaki Tsuruyama, Akihisa Fukuda, and Hiroshi Seno from Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine discussed their recent study exploring the role of p53 in preventing the development of extrahepatic biliary cancer. On March 31, 2023, their editorial was published in Oncotarget, entitled, "p53 protects against formation of extrahepatic biliary precancerous lesions in the context of oncogenic Kras." Full blog - https://www.oncotarget.org/2023/11/02/p53s-protective-role-in-extrahepatic-biliary-precancerous-lesions/ Paper DOI - https://doi.org/10.18632/oncotarget.28380 Correspondence to - Akihisa Fukuda - fukuda26@kuhp.kyoto-u.ac.jp Sign up for free Altmetric alerts about this article - https://oncotarget.altmetric.com/details/email_updates?id=10.18632%2Foncotarget.28380 Subscribe for free publication alerts from Oncotarget - https://www.oncotarget.com/subscribe/ Keywords - cancer, BilIN, ICPN, biliary cancer, Kras, p53 About Oncotarget Oncotarget (a primarily oncology-focused, peer-reviewed, open access journal) aims to maximize research impact through insightful peer-review; eliminate borders between specialties by linking different fields of oncology, cancer research and biomedical sciences; and foster application of basic and clinical science. To learn more about Oncotarget, please visit https://www.oncotarget.com and connect with us: SoundCloud - https://soundcloud.com/oncotarget Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Oncotarget/ X - https://twitter.com/oncotarget Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/oncotargetjrnl/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@OncotargetJournal LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/oncotarget Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/oncotarget/ Reddit - https://www.reddit.com/user/Oncotarget/ Media Contact MEDIA@IMPACTJOURNALS.COM 18009220957