title: Plasma p53 protein and anti-p53 antibody expression in vinyl chloride monomer workers in Taiwan.
abstract: Vinyl chloride (VC) workers are known to be at risk for development of angiosarcoma of the liver (ASL), a rare tumor. Previously, a study of p53 gene mutations in tumors of VC-exposed workers found that 50% of liver angiosarcomas contained such mutations. Mutant p53 oncoprotein and anti-p53 antibodies can also be found in the sera of ASL patients and VC-exposed workers without cancer. Workers in Taiwan have also been exposed to VC, and some have contracted liver tumors. In this study, we used enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays to detect mutant p53 protein and anti-p53 antibodies in the plasma of VC-exposed workers in Taiwan. Thirty-three of 251 (13.2%) VC-workers tested positive for the p53 overexpression (10% with positive mutant p53 protein and 3.6% with positive anti-p53) in their plasma, but only 2 of 36 controls (5.6%) tested positive (2.8% with positive mutant p53 protein and 2.8% with positive anti-p53). There was a significant association between cumulative VC exposure concentration and positive p53 expression (P = 0.032) among VC workers after we adjusted for age, hepatitis, drinking, and smoking status. In summary, P53 overexpression (mutant p53 protein or anti-p53 antibody) can be found in the plasma of VC workers in Taiwan, and a significant dose-response relationship exists between plasma p53 overexpression and VC cumulative exposure concentration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Chang Gung Medical College, Taiwan, R.O.C.
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: H T
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Du
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000906:Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D006394:Hemangiosarcoma / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D013624:Taiwan; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D014752:Vinyl Chloride / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D015415:Biomarkers; D002273:Carcinogens; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D014752:Vinyl Chloride