Detecting the polymorphism sites of p53 and Fas genes of Han population in Zhejiang province

BACKGROUND： It is of significance for single nucleotide polymorphisms （SNPs）, a difference of rank, which exists widely in biology, genetics and other fields. OBJECTIVE： To detect polymorphism sites in exon-4 of p53 gene, promotor of Fas gene and intron-7 of Fas gene of healthy people in Han nationality in Zhejiang province. DESIGN： Simple random sampling. SETTING： Department of Surgery of the 118 Hospital of Chinese PLA.PARTICIPANTS： A total of 80 healthy people in Han nationality were selected from hospitals in Zhejiang province from August 2005 to January 2006. There were 43 males and 37 females aged from 3 to 78 years with the mean age of 39.5 years, and all subjects were consent. DNA which was used in genetic analysis was selected from peripheral venous blood of all subjects and maintained at -20℃.METHODS： Polymorphism sites in exon-4 of p53 gene, promotor of Fas gene and intron-7 of Fas gene were detected with directly DNA sequencing technique. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES ： Polymorphism sites in exon-4 of p53 gene, promotor of Fas gene and intron-7 of Fas gene of healthy people in Han nationality in Zhejiang province. RESULTS： A total of 80 samples were involved in the final analysis. SNPs sites were found at the 119^th base of exon-4 of p53 gene （the 72^nd codon of p53 gene）, the 670^th base of upper start codon in promotor of Fas gene （Fas-670）, and the 995^th base of intron-7 of Fas gene, especially SNPs in the 995^th base of intron-7 pf Fas gene, i.e. C→A transversion, was a new site.CONCLUSION ： One unknown SNPs site is discovered in intron-7 of Fas gene of people in Han nationality in Zhejiang province. This study also proves that the 72^nd codon exists in p53 gene and the -670 polymorphism site exists in promotor of Fas gene.

p53在乳腺癌中的表达及其临床意义

目的探讨p53蛋白在乳腺癌中的表达及其临床意义。方法收集该科收治的214例乳腺癌患者的临床病理资料,回顾性分析p53蛋白表达情况及其与临床病理特征的相关性。结果 p53蛋白阳性率为52.3%;p53阳性表达与患病年龄、病灶大小无相关性(P>0.05),与淋巴结转移状态、肿瘤组织学分级及分子分型呈正相关(r=0.396、0.309、0.167,P=0.000、0.000、0.014),与雌激素受体、孕激素受体的表达呈负相关(r=-0.561、-0.315,P=0.000、0.000),与人表皮生长因子受体2及Ki-67的表达呈正相关(r=0.374、0.153,P=0.000、0.026);三阴型与非三阴型中p53蛋白表达差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论p53与乳腺癌生物学特性密切相关,检测乳腺癌中p53的表达可作为指导临床治疗和判断预后的参考指标。

rAd-p53联合放化疗治疗晚期头颈部鳞状细胞癌

p53基因是迄今为止发现与人类肿瘤相关性最高的基因，在头颈部癌中，p53基因在喉癌、上颌窦癌、唾液腺癌、鼻咽癌等中均可见到阳性表达，而以复制缺陷型重组腺病毒为载体的p53基因替代疗法作为一种肿瘤治疗的新方法在头颈部鳞状细胞癌（鳞癌）中取得了很好的疗效，且临床应用安全。自2006年3月至2006年12月，我科应用重组人p53腺病毒（recombinant adenovirus—p53，rAd—p53，商品名为今又生）注射液对14例局部晚期或复发性头颈部鳞癌联合放化疗进行治疗，获得了较好的近期疗效，报道如下。

HCCR-1、P53在宫颈癌及其癌前病变中的表达及其临床意义

[目的]探讨人宫颈癌致癌基因-1（human cervical cancer oncogene-1，HCCR-1）、P53在宫颈癌及其癌前病变组织中的表达及临床意义。比较人乳头状瘤病毒（human papillomavirus ，HPV）检测与免疫组化法检测HCCR-1蛋白诊断宫颈上皮内瘤样变（cervical intraepithelianeoplasia ，CIN ）和宫颈癌的敏感度和特异度。[方法]采用免疫组化SP法检测 HCCR-1和P53在具有 HPV-DNA检测结果的40例宫颈癌、30例CIN Ⅰ、30例CINⅡ～Ⅲ和10例正常宫颈组织标本中的表达。[结果]① HCCR-1蛋白在正常宫颈组织中无表达，随着宫颈上皮病变的升级而呈现增高的趋势，各组间差异有统计学意义（ P ＜0．05）。②CIN Ⅰ、CIN Ⅱ～Ⅲ和宫颈癌P53表达阳性率显著高于正常宫颈（ P ＜0．05）。③ HCCR-1、P53在宫颈组织中的表达 HCCR-1、P53在宫颈组织的表达相关系数较低（ r ＝0．220，P ＝0．021），可认为两者没有相关性。④ HCCR-1、HR-HPV在宫颈组织的表达明显呈正相关（ r ＝0．9，P ＝0．000）。⑤免疫组化法检测 HCCR-1诊断CIN和宫颈癌的敏感度和特异度分别为71％和100％。[结论]在宫颈病变进展的过程中受多基因调控。 HCCR-1与突变型p53蛋白的表达随病理级别进展均呈逐步增加的趋势，在宫颈病变的发生发展中可能起着重要的作用。免疫组化法检测宫颈组织中 HCCR-1蛋白表达有望成为宫颈病变的诊断辅助工具。

The Relationship between the Expression of p27^(Kip1),p53 and the Infiltration,Metastasis and Prognosis in Gastric Carcinoma

Objective: To study the relationship between the expression of p27Kip1 and p53, and the infiltration, metastasis and prognosis in gastric carcinoma. Methods: The expression of p27Kip1 and p53 at protein level was determined by immunohistochemical assay (two-step method) in 100 cases of gastric carcinoma. Results: Of the 100 cases, the positive rate of p27Kip1 and p53 expressions were 44% and 49%, respectively. In the group of gastric carcinomas with deep infiltration (infiltration group), lymph nodes metastasis group (metastasis group) and death-within-5-years group (death group), the expression of p27Kip1 was statistically lower (_P<0.05). In the metastasis group and death group, the expression of p53 was significantly higher (P<0.05). The results of the monovariate analysis revealed that the 5-year survival rate of the high p27Kip1 expression group was 70.59%, which is higher than those of the low p27Kip1 expression group (54.55%) and the negative experession group (26%). The 5-year survival rate of the high p53 expression group was 19.23%, which was lower than those of the p53 low expression group (43.75%) and the negative group (53.19%). Cox multivariate analysis showed that p27Kip1, like p53, was an independent prognostic index. But p27Klpl protein expression was a stronger independent survival predictor (RR=3.06) than p53 expression (RR=2.33). Conclusion: The low expression of p27Kip1 and the high expression of p53 reflected the more frequent invasion and metastasis, which resulted in the reduced survival of patients. As an independent markers of the gastric carcinoma, the expression of p27Kip1 is more useful than that of p53 in the prognosis prediction of gastric carcinoma.

p53 gene mutations in primary gastric cancer

AIMS p53 gene is one of the focuses in the study of tu- mour suppressor genes.So far,there is still controversy about the relationship between p53 alterations and clinicolpathological parameters of gastic cancers such as macroscopic classifica- tion,stage,degree of differentiation,depth of tumour invasion and lymphonod metastasis.Tamura has reported that p53 gene mutations mainly occur in the aneuploid tumours.But in China, nothing is reported in this field of study.Our aim is to analyze the relationship between p53 gene mutations and these param- eters including DNA ploidy in Chinese primary gasrtic cancers. METHODS Mutations of the p53 gene in exon5-8 were examined in 20 cases of primary gasric cancer by PCR-SSCP (Polymerase-chain-reaction-single-strand-conforma- tion-polymorphism)analysis. RESULTS Mutations were detected in 8(40%)cases:2 cases in exon5-6,2 cases in exon7,4 cases in exon8.These mutations were detected from stage 0 to stage Ⅲ No significant association was found between p53 gene mutations and the clinicopathological parameters such as macroscopic classifico- tion,degree of histological differentiation,depth of tumour in- vasion and lymphonod metastasis.In addition,66.7%(6 of 9) of aneuploid tumours had p53 mutations and only 18.2%(2 of 11)of diploid tumours had mutations. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that p53 gene muta- tions are related to DNA ploidy alterations and that p53 gene is one of the important turnout suppressor genes in human gastric cancer.

P53和Bcl-2蛋白在基底细胞癌中的表达及临床意义

目的探讨P53、B细胞淋巴瘤/白血病-2基因(bcl-2)蛋白在基底细胞癌(BCC)组织中的表达及临床意义。方法用免疫组化链霉素抗生素蛋白-过氧化物酶连结(SP)法检测P53、Bcl-2蛋白在40例BCC(BCC组)组织中的表达,以20例正常皮肤组织作为对照组。结果 P53、Bcl-2蛋白在BCC组表达阳性率分别为55%(22/40)、85%(34/40),在对照组表达阳性率分别为15%(3/20)、10%(2/20)。P53、Bcl-2蛋白在BCC组中的表达明显强于对照组,差异有统计学意义(χ2=6.35、7.45,P<0.01)。结论 P53、Bcl-2蛋白的异常表达与BCC相关,说明其可能在BCC的发生及发展过程中起重要作用。

双氢青蒿素对人卵巢癌细胞株HO-8910裸鼠移植瘤的作用及P53表达的影响

目的探讨双氢青蒿素(DHA)对人卵巢癌细胞株HO-8910裸鼠皮下移植瘤的作用及P53表达的影响。方法将人卵巢癌细胞株HO-8910注入裸鼠的腋下,建立人卵巢癌移植瘤的动物模型,随机分为空白组,低剂量DHA组、中剂量DHA组、高剂量DHA组、顺铂阳性对照组,观察干预后各组移植瘤抑瘤率;免疫组织化学法和蛋白印迹法检测肿瘤细胞内P53蛋白的表达;应用实时荧光定量聚合酶链反应(RT-PCR)法测定移植瘤中P53 mRNA的表达。结果①DHA对裸鼠移植瘤的生长有一定的抑制作用,并具有浓度依赖性。②病理学观察见细胞的体积较大,胞质疏松,核深染,可有不同程度的核固缩、核碎裂及核溶解,细胞中可见局灶性坏死。③免疫组织化学法结果证实随着DHA剂量的增加突变型P53蛋白表达减弱;蛋白印迹法检测到DHA组野生型P53蛋白表达上调。④RT-PCR法检测到DHA组野生型P53基因表达上调。结论 DHA对人卵巢癌裸鼠皮下移植瘤的生长有明显的抑制作用,且与剂量有一定的关系,其机制可能与上调野生型P53的表达导致细胞凋亡有关。

p53 gene therapy in combination with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization for HCC:One-year follow-up

AIM:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of combination therapy with recombinant adenovirus p53 injection (rAdp53) and transcatheter hepatic arterial chemoembolization (TACE) for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).METHODS:A total of 82 patients with advanced HCC treated only with TACE served as control group.Another 68 patients with HCC treated with TACE in combination with recombinant adenovirus-p53 injection served as p53 treatment group.Patients were followed up for 12 mo.Safety and therapeutic effects were evaluated according to the improvement in clinical symptoms,leukocyte count,Karnofsky and RECIST criteria.Survival rate was calculated with Kaplan-Meier method.RESULTS:The total effective rate was 58.3% for p53 treatment group,and 26.5% for control group (P < 0.05).The incidence of gastrointestinal symptoms was lower in p53 treatment group than in control group (P < 0.05).The 3-,6-and 12-mo survival rates were significantly higher for p53 treatment group than for control group (P < 0.01).The combination treatment was well tolerated with such adverse events as fever (51.5%,P=0.006) and pain of muscles and joints (13.2%,P=0.003),which were significantly higher than the chemotherapy.Except for these minor adverse effects,no severe vector-related complications were identified.With respect to the efficacy,patients in p53 treatment group had less gastrointerestinal symptoms (P=0.062),better improvement in tumor-related pain (P=0.003),less downgrade of leukocyte counts (P=0.003) and more upgrade of Karnofsky performance score (P=0.029) than those in control group.The total effective rate (CR + PR) for p53 treatment group and control group was 58.3% and 26.5%,respectively,with distributions of different effect in two groups (P=0.042).The survival rates were 89.71%,76.13%,and 43.30% for p53 treatment group,and 68.15%,36.98%,and 24.02% for control group,respectively,3,6 and 12 mo after treatment,suggesting that the survival rates are significantly higher for p53 treatment group than for control group (P=0.0002).CONCLUSION:The rAd-p53 gene therapy in combination with TACE is a safe and effective treatment modality for advanced HCC.

Inhibitory effects of polysaccharides isolated from Phellinus gilvus on benzo(a)pyrene-induced forestomach carcinogenesis in mice

AIM: Although polysaccharides from Phellinus mushrooms are a well-known material with anti-tumor properties, there is no information about the effect of polysaccharides from Phellinus gilvus (PG) on tumor. The modulating effect of polysaccharides isolated from PG on the benzo(a)pyrene (BaP)-induced forestomach carcinogenesis in ICR female mice was investigated in this study.METHODS: A forestomach carcinogenesis model was established in 40 ICR female mice receiving oral administration of BaP for 4 wk. The mice were randomly assigned to 4 groups (10 each). The mice in each group were treated with sterile water or PG for 4 and 8 wk (SW4,PGW4, SW8, and PGW8 groups). Eight or 12 wk after the first dose of BaP, forestomachs were removed for histopathological and RT-PCR analysis.RESULTS: In histopathological changes and RT-PCR analysis, sterile water-treated mice showed significant hyperplasia of the gastric mucosa with a significantly increased expression of mutant p53 mRNA compared to mice treated with PG for 8 wk.CONCLUSION: Polysaccharides isolated from PG may inhibit BaP-induced forestomach carcinogenesis in mice bydown-regulating mutant p53 expression.

Successful management of postoperative recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma with p53 gene therapy combining transcatheter arterial chemoembolization

Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) has become the standard treatment for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). But this method has some shortages. p53 gene, which was found to be mutant in many human tumors, has been proved with broadspectrum anti-tumor effects. We reported a 23-year-old patient with recurrent HCC after irregular hepatectomy. The p53 gene was applied to this patient. We injected percutaneously and infused transcatheterally p53 gene (Gendicine, Shenzhen Sibiono Bentech, China) into his recurrent nodules in liver respectively and 4 d later, the patient received TACE therapy. In the 2 mo follow-up, the patient was in good clinical condition with normal liver function and no recurrence was identified. The case report proposed that recurrent HCC could be successfully treated with p53 gene therapy combining TACE.

p53 gene in treatment of hepatic carcinoma:Status quo

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the 10 most common cancers worldwide. There is no ideal treatment for HCC yet and many researchers are trying to improve the effects of treatment by changing therapeutic strategies. As the majority of human cancers seem to exhibit either abnormal p53 gene or disrupted p53 gene activation pathways, intervention to restore wild-type p53 (wt-p53) activities is an attractive anti-cancer therapy including HCC. Abnormalities of p53 are also considered a predisposition factor for hepatocarcinogenesis. p53 is frequently mutated in HCC. Most HCCs have defects in the p53-mediated apoptotic pathway although they carry wt-p53. High expression of p53 in vivo may exert therapeutic effects on HCC in two aspects: (1) High expression of exogenous p53 protein induces apoptosis of tumor cells by inhibiting proliferation of cells through several biologic pathways and (2) Exogenous p53 renders HCC more sensitive to some chemotherapeutic agents. Several approaches have been designed for the treatment of HCC via the p53 pathway by restoring the tumor suppression function from inactivation, rescuing the mutated p53 gene from instability, or delivering therapeutic exogenous p53. Products with p53 status as the target have been studied extensively in vitro and in vivo . This review elaborates some therapeutic mechanisms and advances in using recombinant human adenovirus p53 and oncolytic virus products for the treatment of HCC.

Homozygosity for Pro of p53 Arg72Pro as a potential risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma in Chinese population

AIM: Codon 72 exon 4 polymorphism (Arg72Pro) of the p53 gene has been implicated in cancer risk. Our objective was to investigate the possible association between p53Arg72Pro polymorphism and susceptibility to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) among Chinese population.METHODS: The p53 Arg72Pro genotypes were determined by PCR-based restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis in 507 HCC cases and 541 controls. Odds ratios (ORs) for HCC and 95% confidence intervals (CIs)from unconditional logistic regression models were used to evaluate relative risks. Potential risk factors were included in the logistic regression models as covariates in the multivariate analyses on genotype and HCC.RESULTS: The frequencies for Pro and Arg alleles were 44.5%, 55.5% in HCC cases, and 40.3% and 59.7% in controls, respectively. The Pro allele was significantly associated with the presence of HCC (P = 0.05) and had a higher risk for HCC (OR = 1.19, 95% CI 1.00-1.41) as compared with the Arg allele. After adjusted for potential risk factors, Arg/Pro heterozygotes had an 1.21-fold increased risk (95% CI 0.82-1.78, P = 0.34) of HCC compared with Arg homozygotes, whereas the risk for Pro homozygotes was 1.79 (95% CI 1.06-3.01, P = 0.03) times higher than that for Arg homozygotes. Pro-allele carriers had a higher relative risk of HCC than the Arg-only carriers (adjusted OR = 1.33, 95% CI 0.92-1.92, P = 0.13), although the difference was not statistically significant.CONCLUSION: Homozygosity for Pro of p53 Arg72Pro is potentially one of the genetic risk factors for HCC in Chinese population. The p53 Arg72Pro polymorphism may be used as a stratification marker in screening individuals at a high risk of HCC.

Genetic aberration in primary hepatocellular carcinoma:correlation between p53 gene mutation and loss-of-heterozygosity on chromosome 16q21-q23 and 9p21-p23

To elucidate the molecular pathology underlying the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), we used 41 highly polymorphic microsatellite markers to examine 55 HCC and corresponding non-tumor liver tissues on chromosome 9, 16 and 17. Loss-of-heterozygosity (LOH) is observed with high frequency on chromosomal region 17p13 (36/55, 65%), 9p21-p23 (28/55, 51%), 16q21-q23 (27/55, 49%) in tumors. Meanwhile, microsatellite instability is rarely found in these microsatellite loci. Direct sequencing was performed to detect the tentative mutation of tumor suppressor genes in these regions: p53, MTS1/p16, and CDH1/E-cadherin. Within exon 5-9 of p53 gene, 14 out of 55 HCC specimens (24%) have somatic mutations, and nucleotide deletion of this gene is reported in HCC for the first time. Mutation in MTS1/pl6 is found only in one tumor case. We do not find mutations in CDH1/E-cadherin. Furthermore, a statistically significant correlation is present between p53 gene mutation and loss of chromosome region 16q21q23 and 9p21-p23, which indicates that synergism between p53 inactivation and deletion of 16q21-q23 and 9p21-p23 may play a role in the pathogenesis of HCC. Genetic aberration in hepatocellular

Abnormal Change of p53 Gene in Gastric and PrecancerousLesions and APC Gene Deletion in Gastric Carcinoma and Near Tissues

p53 gene mutation (exon4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and intron6) in gastric cancer and precancerous lesions and p53 gene (exon4 and ontron6), APC gene deletion in gastric carcinomas were studied by PCR/SSCP and PCR/RFLP- Results showed mutation rate of p53 in metaplasia, dysplasia and gastric carcinoma was 37. 5 % (3/8), 42. 11 % (8/19), 53. 33 (16/30) respectively- There was significant dif-ference among groups of metaplasia, dysplasia, cancer and normal controls. Noexon8 mutation was found in metaplasia and dysplasia, but 4 cases were found to have exon8 mutation in cancer group. It is suggested that exon8 mutation occurs at the late stage of gastric cancer, but exon 5, 6, 7 mutation occur in the course ofprecancerous lesion to cancer. Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) of exon4, intron6,APC was 47,37 % (9/19), 8. 73% (2/23), 16. 67 % (3/18) respectively. LOH of exon4 had something to do with poor differentiation, lymph node metastasis,depth of invasion- LOH of exon4 may be one of prognostic marker of gastric cancer. We are led to conclude that p53 gene mutation is an early event and perhaps work together with ras oncogene in gastric carcinogenesis

p53-expressing conditionally replicative adenovirus CNHK500-p53 against hepatocellular carcinoma in vitro

AIM： To develop a conditionally replicative gene-viral vector system called CNHK500-p53, which contains dual promoters within the E1 region, and combines the advantages of oncolytic virus and gene therapies for hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC）. METHODS： CNHK500-p53 was constructed by using human telomerase reverse transcriptase （hTERT） promoter to drive adenovirus E1a gene and hypoxia response element （HRE） promoter to drive adenovirus E1b gene. p53 gene expressing cassette was inserted into the genome of replicative virus. Viral replication experiments, cytopathic effect （CPE） and methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium （MTT） assay were performed to test the selective replication and oncolytic efficacy of CNHK500-p53. RESULTS： Immunohistochemistry verified that infection with CNHK500-p53 was associated with selective replication of adenovirus and production of p53 protein in telomerase-positive and hypoxia-inducible factordependent HCC cells, p53 protein secreted from HepG2, infected with CNHK500-p53 was significantly higher than that infected with nonreplicative adenovirus Ad-p53 in vitro （388 ± 34.6 μg/L vs 76.3 ± 13.17 μg/L）. Viral replication experiments showed that replication of CNHK500-p53 and CNHK500 or WtAd5, was much stronger than that of Ad-p53 in tested HCC cell lines. CPE and H1-F assay indicated that CNHK500-p53 selectively replicated in and killed HCC cells while leaving normal cells unaffected. CONCLUSION： A more efficient gene-viral system is developed by combining selective oncolysis with exogenous expression of p53 against HCC cells.

Correlation of p53 gene mutation and expression of P53 protein in cholangiocarcinoma

AIM： To characterize the tumor suppressor gene P53 mutations and study the correlation of P53 gene mutation and the expression of P53 protein in cholangiocarcinoma. METHODS： A total of 36 unselected, frozen samples of cholangiocarcinoma were collected, p53 gene status（exon 5-8） and P53 protein were examined by automated sequencing and immunohistochemical staining, combined with the clinical parameters of patients. RESULTS： P53 gene mutations were found in 22 of 36 （61.1%） patients. Nineteen of 36 （52.8%） patients were positive for P53 protein expression. There were significant differences in extent of differentiation and invasion between the positive and negative expression of P53 protein. However, there were no significant differences in pathologic parameters between the mutations and non-mutations. CONCLUSION： The alterations of the P53 gene evaluated by DNA sequence analysis is relatively accurate. Expression of P53 protein could not act as an independent index to estimate the prognosis of cholangiocarcinoma.

ADENOVIRUS-MEDIATED P53 GENE TRANSFER INCREASES THE THERMOSENSITIVITY OF HUMAN GASTRIC CARCINOMA CELL LINES(IN VITRO AND IN VIVO)

Objective: To evaluate the effect of adenovirus-mediated p53 gene (Adp53) on apoptosis andradiosensitivity of human gastric carcinoma cell lines.Methods: Recombinant adenovirus expressing wild-type p53 gene was transferred into four human gastric carcinoma cell lines with different p53 genetic status. p53 proteinexpression was detected by immunohistochemistry assayand western blot assay. Cell survival was assessed using a clonogenic assay. TUNEL assay was used in determination of apoptosis. Four human gastric carcinoma cells infectedwith Adp53 were irradiated with 4Gy and cell cycle distribution and Sub-G1 peak were assayed by flowcytometry. Results: G2/M arrest, apoptosis and inhibition of tumor cell proliferation were induced by infection atAdp53 at 100 MOI which caused high transfer rate ofwild-type p53 and strong expression of p53 protein in four human gastric carcinoma cells. The radio-enhancement ratio of Adp53 at 4Gy were 3.0 for W cell, 3.6 for M cell, 2.2 for neo cell and 2.5 for 823 cell in vitro. Conclusion: Thisstudy demonstrated that Adp53 transfer increased cellularapoptosis and radiosensitivity of human gastric carcinoma cell lines in vitro independently on cellular intrinsic p53status thus supporting the combination of p53 gene therapy with radiotherapy in clinical trials.

A p53 genetic polymorphism of gastric cancer: Difference between early gastric cancer and advanced gastric cancer

AIM: To investigate the role of the polymorphism of p53 codon 72 in early gastric cancer (EGC) and advanced gastric cancer (AGC) in Korean patients. METHODS: DNA was extracted from blood samples of gastric cancer patients (n = 291) and controls (n = 216). In the p53 codon 72 genotypes were determined by PCR-RFLP.RESULTS: Patients with gastric cancer had a significantly higher frequency of the homozygous proline (Pro) allele than the control (P = 0.032). Patients with AGC had a significantly higher frequency of the Arg/Arg (arginine) allele (P = 0.038) than EGC and a similar Pro/Pro allele. The signet ring cell type had a higher frequency of the Pro/Pro allele than other types (P = 0.031). The Pro/Pro genotype carries a 3.9-fold increased risk of developing gastric cancer (95% CI, 1.3-15.4, P = 0.039) when compared to Arg/Arg and Arg/Pro genotypes and to develop EGC is a 5.25 fold increased risk (95% CI, 1.8-19.6, P = 0.021). CONCLUSION: The Pro/Pro genotype of the p53 codon 72 polymorphism carries a higher risk for gastric cancer in general and is also associated with a much higher risk for EGC than AGC.

Inhibitory effect of tumor suppressor p33^(ING1b) and its synergy with p53 gene in hepatocellular carcinoma

AIM: To investigate the inhibitory effect of tumor suppressor p33ING1b and its synergy with p53 gene in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).METHODS: Recombinant sense and antisense p33ING1b plasmids were transfected into hepatoma cell line HepG2 with lipofectamine. Apoptosis, G0/G1 arrest, cell growth rate and cloning efficiency in soft agar of HepG2 were analyzed after transfection. In three hepatoma cell lineswith different endogenous p53 gene expressions, the synergistic effect of p33ING1b with p53 was analyzed by flow cytometry and luciferase assay was performed to detect the activation of p53 downstream gene p21WAF1/CIP1. In addition, the expression and mutation rates of p33ING1b in HCC tissues were measured by immunohistochemistry and polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP).RESULTS: Overexpression of p33ING1b inhibited cell growth of HepG2, induced more apoptosis and protected cells from growth in soft agar. Combined transfer of p33ING1b and p53 gene promoted hepatoma cell apoptosis, G0/G1 arrest and elevated expression of p21WAF1/CIP1. Immunostaining results showed co-localized P33ING1b with P53 protein in HCC tissues and there was a significant relation between protein expression rates of these two genes (P＜0.01).Among 28 HCC samples, p33ING1b presented a low gene mutation rate (7.1%).CONCLUSION: p33ING1b collaborates with p53 in cell growth inhibition, cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in HCC. Loss or inactivation of p33ING1b normal function may be an important mechanism for the development of HCC retaining wildtype p53.