title: Analysis of the p53 gene in human precancerous actinic keratosis lesions and squamous cell cancers.
abstract: A biomarker of skin cancer would be beneficial in evaluating the efficacy of potential cancer chemoprevention agents. To this end, we investigated the tumor suppressor gene p53 in precancerous actinic keratosis lesions (AK) and malignant squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) using polymerase chain reaction and single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis (PCR-SSCP) techniques. In addition, p53 protein expression was evaluated using immunohistochemistical analysis with the PAB 1801 monoclonal antibody. Nine out of 13 (69%) SCCs and 8 of 15 (53%) AKs were positive for p53 mutations. In contrast, normal skin samples were negative for p53 mutations. Sequence analysis of AKs and SCCs showed primarily C to T transition mutations. Nuclear immunochemical staining for p53 was observed in 12/15 (80%) AK and 12/13 (92%) SSCs. These results suggest that p53 mutations may be involved in the malignant conversion of AKs to SCCs and that p53 may be useful as a biomarker to study the potential modulatory effects of cancer chemopreventive agents against skin cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Einspahr
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Alberts
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Balfour
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Wymer
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Welch
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Salasche
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Bangert
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Grogan
authors.forename: P O
authors.initials: PO
authors.lastname: Bozzo
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D001706:Biopsy; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D005091:Exons; D016158:Genes, p53; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007642:Keratosis / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D018807:Polymorphism, Single-Stranded Conformational; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000235:genetics*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53