title: Absence of p53 gene expression in selenium molecular prevention of chemically induced hepatocarcinogenesis in rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  p53 pathway is thought by many researchers to be critically involved in selenium's chemoprevention or in hepatocarcinogenesis. The aim of this study was to investigate the gene expression of p53, p21 and B-cell lymphoma-2 (bcl-2) using preventive and therapeutic approaches of selenium in chemically induced hepatocarcinogenesis in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rats were divided randomly into six groups: Negative control, positive control (diethyl nitrosamine +2-acetylaminofluorene), preventive group, preventive control (respective control for preventive group), therapeutic group and therapeutic control (respective control for therapeutic group). p53, p21 and bcl-2 genes on liver tissues were measured using real-time polymerase chain reaction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The expression of p53 was only significant in the therapeutic control. The expression of bcl-2 was insignificant in all the groups. p21 expression was significant in all the groups except the preventive group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The selenium molecular mechanism for liver cancer prevention is not through the p53 pathway. Also, the absence of p53 is not necessary for chemically induced liver cancer in rats.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman. nasarsidab@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Nasar Y
authors.initials: NY
authors.lastname: Alwahaibi
authors.forename: Siti B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Budin
authors.forename: Jamaludin H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Mohamed
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D008114:Liver Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000235:genetics* / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D064586:Selenic Acid; D012643:Selenium / Q000378:metabolism*; D018036:Selenium Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm; D018036:Selenium Compounds; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D012643:Selenium; D064586:Selenic Acid