A lack of association between p53 mutations and recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinomas refractory to radiotherapy.
OBJECTIVE
The object of this study was to determine the incidence of p53 mutation in recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma refractory to radiotherapy.


METHODS
Prospective study.


METHODS
There were 31 patients enrolled in this study between 1995 and 1998. All patients had received radiotherapy but none of them had undergone chemotherapy or local salvage surgery previously.


RESULTS
The p53 status of each tumor was analyzed by polymerase chain reaction and by sequencing of exons 5 to 8 (codons 126-306). Five (16.1%) of 31 patients had mutations in the p53 gene, of which 2 were non-sense mutations, 2 were transition mutations, and 1 was a frameshift deletion mutation. The majority of the p53 mutations were found in exon 5. There is no significant difference in the incidence of p53 mutation compared with that of the previous reports for the primary disease. Based on the clinicopathologic data, there was no specific difference found between these 5 patients and the others.


CONCLUSIONS
This study shows that p53 mutation is an infrequent event and may have no essential role in recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinomas.
Chang
Kai-Ping
KP
Department of Otolaryngology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou, Taiwan.
Hao
Sheng-Po
SP
Lin
Shinn-Yn
SY
Tsao
Kuo-Chien
KC
Kuo
Tseng-tong
TT
Tsai
Ming-Hsui
MH
Tseng
Chen-Kan
CK
Tsang
Ngan-Ming
NM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001483:Base Sequence; D017931:DNA Primers; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics; D004587:Electrophoresis, Agar Gel; D005091:Exons; D005260:Female; D016158:Genes, p53; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011446:Prospective Studies
D017931:DNA Primers; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm