title: Genetic polymorphism in p53 codon 72 and skin cancer in southwestern Taiwan.
abstract: The Pro/Pro polymorphism of p53 codon 72 has been reported to be related to bladder and lung cancer, but its relationship with skin cancer is unclear. We assessed the hypothesis that there is a relationship between the p53 codon 72, Pro/Pro polymorphism, cumulative arsenic exposure, and the risk of skin cancer in a hospital-based case-control study in southwestern Taiwan. From 1996 to 1999, 93 newly-diagnosed skin cancer patients at the National Cheng-Kung University (NCKU) Hospital and 71 community controls matched on residence were recruited in southwestern Taiwan. The genotype of p53 codon 72 (Arg/Arg, Arg/Pro, or Pro/Pro) was determined for all subjects by polymerase chain reaction-restricted fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). A questionnaire was administered to each subject for collection of demographic information, personal habits, disease history, diet information, and other relevant questions. The Pro/Pro (homozygous) genotype was more frequent in skin cancer patients (cases, 20%; controls, 12%; P = 0.37). Subjects with the susceptible genotype Pro/Pro and heterozygous (intermediate) genotype Pro/Arg had 2.18 and 0.99 times risk of skin cancer than the wild type Arg/Arg (95% confidence interval, 0.74-4.38; 95% confidence interval, 0.44-2.21), respectively. Compared with subjects with 18.5 < BMI < 23, subjects with BMI > 18.5 had 5.78 times risk of skin cancer (95% confidence interval, 1.06 to 31.36) after adjusting for other risk factors. There was no interaction between BMI and genotype, but the sample size was small. The risk of skin cancer did not significantly vary by tumor cell-type. The risk of skin cancer is increased in individuals with the Pro/Pro genotype. Larger, confirmatory studies are needed to clarify the role of constitutional polymorphisms in p53 and skin cancer risk.
authors.affiliation: Occupational Health Program, Department of Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: Yen-Ching
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Lilian
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Yu-Liang Leon
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Huey-Jen Jenny
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Yu-Mei
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Hsueh
authors.forename: Thomas J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Louise M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Ryan
authors.forename: Meei-Shyuan
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Sheau-Chiou
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Chaor
authors.forename: Julia Yu-Yun
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: David C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Christiani
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003062:Codon; D005260:Female; D016158:Genes, p53 / Q000235:genetics*; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics*; D013624:Taiwan
chemical_list: D003062:Codon