[Mutation of p53 gene in esophageal precancerous cells].
OBJECTIVE
To make a comparison of gene mutation between precancerous lesions and normal esophageal epicytes and investigate the correlation between p53 gene mutation of precancerous lesions and esophagus carcinogenesis.


METHODS
We made use of forty-eight samples (24 normal squamous epithelia and 24 squamous severe dysplasia) obtained by balloon cytologic evidence in 1982 from a high incidence area, Yanting County of Sichuan Province, China. The 5th and 7th exons of p53 gene mutation were analyzed by single-strand conformation polymorphism method and restriction fragment length polymorphism method.


RESULTS
p53 gene was successfully checked and measured in all samples. Mutation was noted in exon 7 of p53 gene in 5 cases, but it was not found in exon 5. No mutation was detected in normal exfoliative epicytes. In 3 out of the 5 mutation cases, there were evidences for carcinogenesis in 1992, 1994 and 1996 respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The normal state of p53 gene is a prerequisite condition to the maintaining of normal squamous epithelia. Carcinogenesis dominates over the precancerous lesions due to p53 gene mutation.
Kou
Yingli
Y
Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
Zhang
Jianrong
J
Chen
Guodi
G
Wu
Zhu
Z
Yang
Junjie
J
Jiang
Guangliang
G
Zhao
Yongfan
Y
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D016158:Genes, p53 / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017354:Point Mutation; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology