Tumor predisposition in mice mutant for p63 and p73:: Evidence for broader tumor suppressor functions for the p53 family

p63 and p73 are functionally and structurally related to the tumor suppressor p53. However, their own role in tumor suppression is unclear. Given the p53-like properties of p63 and p73, we tested whether they are involved in tumor suppression by aging mice heterozygous for mutations in all p53 family genes and scored for spontaneous tumors. We show here that p63(+/-);p73(+/-) mice develop spontaneous tumors. Loss of p63 and p73 can also cooperate with loss of p53 in tumor development. Mice heterozygous for mutations in both p53 and p63 or p53 and p73 displayed higher tumor burden and metastasis compared to p53(+/-) mice. These findings provide evidence for a broader role for the p53 family than has been previously reported.