“…One of the most widely studied responses to UV-light is for DNA-damaged KCs to be eliminated via apoptosis ± a process referred to as a cellular proofreading Meek, 1998). The primary mediator responsible for removing DNA damaged keratinocytes in skin is believed to be p53, and this so-called`guardian of the tissue' role for p53 has dominated the ®eld of cutaneous carcinogenesis for the past several decades (Ananthaswamy et al, 1997;Burren et al, 1998;Cleaver, 1968;Gniadecki et al, 1997;Hall et al, 1993;Jonason et al, 1996;Levine, 1997;Li et al, 1996Li et al, , 1998Nakazawa et al, 1994;Ponten et al, 2001;Rees, 1995;Wolf et al, 1995;Ziegler et al, 1994). While many reports using rodent models are in line with a role for p53 in UV-induced apoptosis of KCs (ibid), the precise functional role for p53 in human skin remains to be clari®ed (Dazard et al, 2000;Kulms et al, 1999;Li et al, 1996;Spandau, 1994;Terui et al, 2001).…”