The　development　of　robust　biosensing　platforms　for　accurate　detection　of　cancer-related　gene　is　of　great　significance　for　early　diagnosis　and　treatment　of　cancer.　In　this　paper,　we　proposed　a　new　concept,　exponential　rolling　circle　amplification　(E-RCA),　for　the　circular　oligonucleotide-mediated　tumor　suppressor　p53　gene　detection.　Specifically,　PMB　(primer-containing　molecular　beacon),　PPT　(primer-containing　polymerization　template)　and　padlock　probe　are　involved.　PMB　is　capable　of　recognizing　target　DNA　and　serves　as　signal　reporter,　while　PPT　is　designed　to　harbor　the　half　binding　site　of　nicking　endonuclease　and　is　used　as　the　primary　polymerization　primer.　After　the　target-activated　hybridization　between　PMB　and　PPT,　besides　the　as-designed　PPT　can　promote　the　cyclical　target　strand-displacement　polymerization　(CTDP)　and　nicking-mediated　strand-displacement　polymerization　(NSDP),　the　nicked　primer-induced　RCA　can　make　subsequent　NSDPs　and　RCAs　proceed　repeatedly　and　exponentially,　increasing　dramatically　the　optical　signal　due　to　the　opening　of　a　large　amount　of　PMBs.　The　p53　gene　can　be　detected　down　to　1　pM,　and　point　mutation　can　be　easily　discriminated.　The　exciting　breakthrough　in　the　genetic　diagnosis　concept,　desirable　analytical　characteristics　and　measured　data　for　real　sample　assay　indicate　the　potential　application　in　biomedical　research　and　early　clinical　diagnostics.　©　2016　Elsevier　B.V.