The TP53 tumor suppressor gene and melanoma tumorigenesis: is there a relationship?
Mutations in the TP53 gene are found in about 11% of melanomas. Although nearly 600 papers have been published with varying degrees of consensus, there does not appear to be any comparable analysis that facilitates more than a glimpse into the role of p53 in melanomagenesis. This article reviews p53 alterations (at the gene and protein levels) in melanocytic skin lesions and discusses the following points: (i) p53 alterations commence as early as at the stage of benign and dysplastic nevi; (ii) these alterations are frequent in melanomas, and gradually increase with their progression; (iii) there is no concordance between the frequent p53 protein expression and the rarity of both TP53 gene mutations in melanomas, and (iv) the entire p53 pathway is a more critical determinant of the fate of the melanocytic skin lesions than the status of the p53 protein or the gene itself.
Hussein
Mahmoud R
MR
Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Assuit University, Assuit City, Egypt. mrh17@swissinfo.org
D003062:Codon / Q000235:genetics; D016158:Genes, p53 / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008544:Melanocytes / Q000473:pathology; D008545:Melanoma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D009154:Mutation; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology
D003062:Codon