肿瘤抑制基因是一种抑制细胞非正常性增生的基因,P53基因是继RB基因后新确认的一个肿瘤抑制基因,其野生型能抑制细胞的恶性转化,而突变型则与人类许多肿瘤的发生密切相关。已在口腔癌中发现突变型P53蛋白的过量表达及P53基因的突变和缺失,揭示了口腔癌癌变机理研究的新领域。本文对P53基因及其产物的一般性质、作用机理及其在口腔癌中表达的研究现状进行综述。 Tumor suppressor gene is a gene that inhibits the abnormal proliferation of cells. P53 gene is a newly identified tumor suppressor gene following RB gene. Its wild type can inhibit the malignant transformation of cells, while the mutant type is associated with many human tumors closely related. Overexpression of mutant P53 protein and mutations and deletions of P53 gene have been found in oral cancer, revealing a new field of carcinogenesis research in oral cancer. This review summarizes the general character, mechanism and expression of P53 gene and its products in oral cancer.