title: TP53 Y220C Is a Hotspot Mutation in Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Although TP53 mutations in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) have been extensively studied, their association with the different subsites in the head and neck region has never been described.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sanger sequence analysis evaluating exons 4-9 in the TP53 gene was performed on 116 HNSCC patients. The exon location, exact codon and corresponding substitution in relation to the anatomical site (subsite) of the HNSCC were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found nonsynonymous TP53 mutations in 70% (81/116) of the patients. In oral cavity carcinomas, most mutations occurred in exon 7 (37%). In oropharyngeal and laryngeal tumors, mutations were mainly found in exons 6 and 7. The most common mutation was located in codon 220, and all of these were an Y220C mutation. Five out of nine (56%) Y220C mutations occurred in oropharyngeal tumors. Additionally, 22% of all mutations observed in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) consisted of Y220C mutations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this study, the subsite-related distribution of TP53 mutations underlines the biological diversity between tumors arising from different anatomical regions in the head and neck region. Moreover, the Y220C mutation was by far the most prevalent TP53 mutation in HNSCC and a relative hotspot mutation in the oropharynx. © 2015 S. Karger AG, Basel.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Pauline M W
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: van Kempen
authors.forename: Froukje J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Verdam
authors.forename: Eyleen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: de Poel
authors.forename: Weibel W
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Braunius
authors.forename: Roel A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: de Weger
authors.forename: Robert J J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: van Es
authors.forename: Wilko
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Grolman
authors.forename: Stefan M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Willems