Mutations of p53 gene exons 4-8 in human esophageal cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To characterize the tumor suppressor gene p53 mutations in exon 4, esophageal cancer and adjacent non-cancerous tissues.


METHODS
We performed p53 (exons 4-8) gene mutation analysis on 24 surgically resected human esophageal cancer specimens by PCR, single-strand conformation polymorphism, and DNA sequencing.


RESULTS
p53 gene mutations were detected in 9 of 22 (40.9%) esophageal cancer specimens and 10 of 17 (58.8%) adjacent non-cancerous tissues. Eight of sixteen (50.0%) point mutations detected were G-A transitions and 9 of 18 (50.0%) p53 gene mutations occurred in exon 4 in esophageal cancer specimens. Only 1 of 11 mutations detected was G-A transition and 4 of 11 (36.4%) p53 gene mutations occurred in exon 4 in adjacent non-cancerous tissues.


CONCLUSIONS
Mutation of p53 gene in exon 4 may play an important role in development of esophageal cancer. The observation of p53 gene mutation in adjacent non-cancerous tissues suggests that p53 gene mutation may be an early event in esophageal carcinogenesis. Some clinical factors, including age, sex, pre-operation therapy and location of tumors, do not influence p53 gene mutation rates.
Li
Li-Ya
LY
Department of Oncology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing 100029, China. tjt@263.net
Tang
Jin-Tian
JT
Jia
Li-Qun
LQ
Li
Pei-Wen
PW
D000368:Aged; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D004947:Esophagus / Q000502:physiology; D005091:Exons; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017354:Point Mutation; D018807:Polymorphism, Single-Stranded Conformational; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000235:genetics*
D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53