title: p53 gene analysis in childhood B non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Mutations or deletions in the tumor-suppressor gene p53 are among the commonest genetic changes found in human neoplasms including breast, lung and bowel cancers. In hematological malignancies, p53 is most often mutated in Burkitt's lymphoma, with p53 mutations present in 30 to 40% of tumor samples and in 70% of cell lines.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the p53 gene alterations in child patients with B non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Descriptive study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tertiary oncology care center.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study investigated 12 patients with childhood B non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (Burkitt's lymphoma). Screening for p53 mutations was done by polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformational polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) analysis of exon 5 to 8/9 of the gene.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Abnormal polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformational polymorphism migration pattern was observed in 4 patients (33.3%), one on exon 6 and three on exon 7. Positive cases included 2 patients who died from disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These preliminary results suggest that p53 mutations are quite frequent in children with Burkitt's lymphoma and may play a role in lymphoma genesis or disease progression.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Hematology, Hematology Service, Hospital do Câncer, National Cancer Institute, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. klumb@uol.com.br
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Klumb
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: de Resende
authors.forename: E H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Tajara
authors.forename: E C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Bertelli
authors.forename: V M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Rumjanek
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Maia
mesh_terms: D002051:Burkitt Lymphoma / Q000235:genetics*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D016158:Genes, p53 / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009154:Mutation; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D018807:Polymorphism, Single-Stranded Conformational