Is the p53 inactivation frequency in squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck underestimated? Analysis of p53 exons 2-11 and human papillomavirus 16/18 E6 transcripts in 123 unselected tumor specimens.
Mutations and interaction with high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) E6 oncoprotein are well-established mechanisms of p53 inactivation. In a series of 123 unselected squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck (SCCHN), we performed sequence analysis of the entire coding region of p53 transcript and determined the presence of the E6 transcripts of HPV 16 and 18. Aberrant p53 transcripts were identified in 97 (79%) SCCHN. HPV 16 and/or 18 E6 transcripts were detected in 37 (30%) tumor specimens, including 20 (77%) of the 26 p53 wild-type tumors. The likely inactivation of p53 in 117 (95%) of the 123 SCCHN suggests that this event could be obligatory in the multistep process of carcinogenesis.
Balz
Vera
V
Departments of Otorhinolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, Heinrich-Heine-University, D-40225 Düsseldorf.
Scheckenbach
Kathrin
K
Götte
Karl
K
Bockmühl
Ulrike
U
Petersen
Iver
I
Bier
Henning
H
D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics* / Q000821:virology*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D005091:Exons; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D020868:Gene Silencing; D016158:Genes, p53 / Q000235:genetics*; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009856:Oncogene Proteins, Viral / Q000235:genetics*; D017354:Point Mutation; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C068651:E6 protein, Human papillomavirus type 16; C052603:E6 protein, Human papillomavirus type 18; D009856:Oncogene Proteins, Viral; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012097:Repressor Proteins