Prognostic significance of the proline form of p53 codon 72 polymorphism in nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
An important tumor suppressor gene, p53, plays a role in the regulation of cell progression and prevention of carcinogenesis. Mutated p53 is related to cell progression and malignancy. We aimed to evaluate the association between nasopharyngeal carcinoma and p53 polymorphism.


METHODS
Case control study.


METHODS
All individuals were divided into two groups: nasopharyngeal carcinoma (n = 50) and non-nasopharyngeal carcinoma groups (n = 59). Their p53 codon 72 polymorphisms (arginine [Arg] homozygotes, heterozygotes, proline [Pro] homozygotes) were detected by polymerase chain reaction. Associations between nasopharyngeal carcinoma and p53 polymorphism were evaluated.


RESULTS
Distributions of various p53 polymorphisms significantly differed between the two groups. We noted a dominant presentation of Pro homozygotes in the nasopharyngeal carcinoma population over that in the non-nasopharyngeal carcinoma population. Proportions of Pro homozygotes and heterozygotes and Arg homozygotes were 32%, 28%, and 40% in the nasopharyngeal carcinoma population and were 13.5%, 44.1%, and 42.4% in the non-nasopharyngeal carcinoma population, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
An association exists between nasopharyngeal carcinoma and p53 codon 72 polymorphism. The p53 Pro homozygotes are to a higher risk of development of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
Tsai
Ming-Hsui
MH
Department of Otolaryngology, China Medical College Hospital, No. 2 Yuh-Der Road, Taichung 400, Taiwan.
Lin
Chia-Der
CD
Hsieh
Yao-Yuan
YY
Chang
Florence Chi-Chen
FC
Tsai
Fuu-Jen
FJ
Chen
Wen-Chi
WC
Tsai
Chang-Hai
CH
D001120:Arginine / Q000235:genetics; D002455:Cell Division / Q000235:genetics; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D002681:China; D002886:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 17; D003062:Codon; D006579:Heterozygote; D006720:Homozygote; D006801:Humans; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics*; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D011379:Prognosis; D011392:Proline / Q000235:genetics*; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000235:genetics*
D003062:Codon; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D001120:Arginine; D011392:Proline