title: Analysis of the p53 gene and papillomavirus detection in smears from cervical lesions.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Alterations of the p53 tumor suppressor gene are correlated with a critical step in the development of many human cancers. The tumor suppressor gene functions include regulation of the cell cycle and the cellular response to DNA damage, initiation of DNA repair and replication, induction of apoptosis and promotion of cell differentiation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Smears from ten cases of cervical lesions were analyzed for status of exons 5-8 of the p53 gene using PCR/SSCP. HPV infection was also screened by the PCR method using two PCR primer sets. Changes in the p53 gene were observed in a case of squamous carcinoma and a case of asymptomatic cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade III (CIN III). High-risk HPV was detected in both cases showing that HPV infection and p53 mutation are not exclusive events.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Biomedical Institute, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. mipledy@centrain.com.br
authors.forename: Ledy do Horto
authors.initials: Ldo H
authors.lastname: dos Santos Oliveira
authors.forename: André de Paula
authors.initials: Ade P
authors.lastname: Fernandez
authors.forename: Brunno Lessa Saldanha
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Xavier
authors.forename: Eliana de Vasconcelos
authors.initials: Ede V
authors.lastname: Machado Rodrigues
authors.forename: Silvia Maria Baeta
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Cavalcanti
mesh_terms: D005091:Exons / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D016158:Genes, p53 / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D009154:Mutation; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000235:genetics; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D018807:Polymorphism, Single-Stranded Conformational; D014412:Tumor Virus Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000235:genetics; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000821:virology*; D014626:Vaginal Smears