title: TP53 and MDM2 gene polymorphisms and risk of hepatocellular carcinoma among Italian patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Single-nucleotide polymorphisms within TP53 gene (codon 72 exon 4, rs1042522, encoding either arginine or proline) and MDM2 promoter (SNP309; rs2279744), have been independently associated with increased risk of several cancer types. Few studies have analysed the role of these polymorphisms in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Genotype distribution of TP53 codon 72 and MDM2 SNP309 in 61 viral hepatitis-related hepatocellular carcinoma cases and 122 blood samples (healthy controls) from Italian subjects were determined by PCR and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Frequencies of TP53 codon 72 alleles were not significantly different between cases and controls. A significant increase of MDM2 SNP309 G/G and T/G genotypes were observed among hepatocellular carcinoma cases (Odds Ratio, OR = 3.56, 95% Confidence Limits, 95% CI = 1.3-9.7; and OR = 2.82, 95% CI = 1.3-6.4, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results highlight a significant role of MDM2 SNP309 G allele as a susceptibility gene for the development of viral hepatitis-related hepatocellular carcinoma among Italian subjects.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Biology and Viral Oncology and AIDS Ref, Centre, National Cancer Institute "Fond, Pascale", Naples, Italy. mltornesello@virgilio.it.
authors.forename: Valeria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Di Vuolo
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Buonaguro
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Izzo
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Losito
authors.forename: Gerardo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Botti
authors.forename: Franco M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Buonaguro
authors.forename: Maria Lina
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Tornesello