P53 codon 72 polymorphism in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck region.
BACKGROUND
The impact of codon 72 polymorphism of the human tumour suppressor gene p53 on the risk of developing squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck (HNSCC) remains unclear because of contradictory results found by several studies.


METHODS
We genotyped a group of 77 patients with advanced HNSCC by using a direct sequencing method.


RESULTS
There were no significant differences in the age of the patients at the time of the first diagnosis nor in the 5-year survival rates. There was no additive effect between different risk factors (alcohol, nicotine) and codon 72 polymorphism. Compared to the frequency of homozygosity encoding for Arg/Arg in the Eurasian population given in literature, the present study has shown a significantly higher frequency of homozygosity for Arg/Arg at codon 72 than commonly detected.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings may indicate codon 72 polymorphism as a risk factor for HNSCC or point to a high variability of codon 72 polymorphism among ethnic groups.
Brant
Ommo
O
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Christian Albrechts University Kiel, D-24105 Kiel, Germany. OBrant@hno.uni-kiel.de
Hoffmann
Markus
M
Kanappilly
Anthony
A
Görögh
Tibor
T
Gottschlich
Stefan
S
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000235:genetics; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics*; D003062:Codon; D016158:Genes, p53 / Q000235:genetics*; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012907:Smoking / Q000235:genetics; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000235:genetics
D003062:Codon; C495901:TP53 protein, human; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53