p63 (TP63) - Marker for basal epithelial cells

The TP63 gene encodes the p63 protein, a transcription factor expressed in a number of developing and normal human tissues. p63 is widely used as a marker for basal cells in various epithelia, as well as a marker for cancers derived from squamous epithelia. It is also clinically used in diagnostics regarding prostate cancer, to distinguish benign glands (which have p63-positive basal cells) from prostate cancer, which lack p63 expression.