Function of apoptosis and expression of the proteins Bcl-2,p53 and C-myc in the development of gastric cancer

INTRODUCTIONIn China ,the incidence and mortality of gastric cancer rank the second among all cancers. Recent development of cancer [1-20].The aim of this study was investigat the insight of apoptosis and bcl-2, p53 and C-myc protein expression in the development of gastric cancer .

Orthopedic manifestations of Li-Fraumeni syndrome:Prevention and treatment of a polymorphic spectrum of malignancies

Li-Fraumeni syndrome(LFS)is a rare hereditary cancer predisposition syndrome characterized by a heightened risk of developing various malignancies at an early age.Emerging evidence suggests a correlation between LFS and orthopedic manifestations,underscoring the importance of orthopedic screening in individuals with this syndrome.Pediatric cancer is rare.It is estimated that more than 10%-15%of tumors are secondary to a pathogenic variant in a cancer predisposition gene.More than 100 cancer predisposition genes and their association with syndromes or isolated tumors have been identified.LFS is one of those who have been most widely described.Patients with this syndrome present a high risk of developing one or more tumors.Its knowledge enables the establishment of a follow-up protocol for the patient and affected family members,facilitating early detection of new tumors and reducing tumor and treatment-related morbidity and mortality.The primary objective of this invited editorial article is to provide a thorough review of the existing knowledge of LFS and its polymorphic spectrum of related malignancies,with a focus on aspects directly linked to orthopedic manifestations.Another objective is to offer an update on the most modern prevention,treatment and follow up guidelines that could be useful for the physicians dealing with this cohort of patients.

Overexpression and mutations of tumor suppressor gene p53 in hepatocellular carcinoma

AIMS To examine the prevalance of p53 mutations in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) from Chongqing area and the relationship between the p53 mutations and clinicopathological features of HCC,as well as the risk factors. METHODS The overexpression and point mutations of tumor suppressor gene p53 in 38 cases of HCC were detected by a sensitive antigen retrieval fluid (ARF) immunohistochemical method and polymerase chain re- action(PCR)-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP),and single strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP)-silver staining analysis. RESULTS The results showed that 16 of 38 HCCs had positive p53 protein (42.1%),7 HCCs had p53 mutation at 249 (18.4 % ) and 2 HCCS had point muta- tion within exon 7 other than 249. Among 9 cases of HCC with mutations,8 cases demonstrated positive p53 protein,its coincidental rate was 88.9%. The overexpression and mutations of p53 were significantly related to the differentiation and metastasis of HCCs. The frequency of p53 mutations was consistent with high prevalence of HBV and a moderate aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) exposure in our area. CONCLUSIONS The results suggest that AFB1 acts synergistically with HBV in the generation of p53 mutations. Furthermore,dietary exposure to AFB1 may mainly contribute to the tumor specific mutation at codon 249,while HBV may account for other scattered mutations in HCC.

MicroRNA-298 determines the radio-resistance of colorectal cancer cells by directly targeting human dual-specificity tyrosine(Y)-regulated kinase 1A

BACKGROUND Radiotherapy stands as a promising therapeutic modality for colorectal cancer(CRC);yet,the formidable challenge posed by radio-resistance significantly undermines its efficacy in achieving CRC remission.AIM To elucidate the role played by microRNA-298(miR-298)in CRC radio-resistance.METHODS To establish a radio-resistant CRC cell line,HT-29 cells underwent exposure to 5 gray ionizing radiation that was followed by a 7-d recovery period.The quantification of miR-298 levels within CRC cells was conducted through quantitative RT-PCR,and protein expression determination was realized through Western blotting.Cell viability was assessed by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay and proliferation by clonogenic assay.Radio-induced apoptosis was discerned through flow cytometry analysis.RESULTS We observed a marked upregulation of miR-298 in radio-resistant CRC cells.MiR-298 emerged as a key determinant of cell survival following radiation exposure,as its overexpression led to a notable reduction in radiation-induced apoptosis.Intriguingly,miR-298 expression exhibited a strong correlation with CRC cell viability.Further investigation unveiled human dual-specificity tyrosine(Y)-regulated kinase 1A(DYRK1A)as miR-298’s direct target.CONCLUSION Taken together,our findings underline the role played by miR-298 in bolstering radio-resistance in CRC cells by means of DYRK1A downregulation,thereby positioning miR-298 as a promising candidate for mitigating radioresistance in CRC.

Changes of NF-kB,p53,Bcl-2 and caspase in apoptosis induced by JTE-522 in human gastric adenocarcinoma cell line AGS cells:role of reactive oxygen species

AIM: To identify whether JTE-522 can induce apoptosis in AGS cells and ROS also involved in the process, and to investigate the changes in NF-kB, p53, bcl-2 and caspase in the apoptosis process. METHODS: Cell culture, MTT, Electromicroscopy, agarose gel electrophoresis, lucigenin, Western blot and electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) analysis were employed to investigate the effect of JTE-522 on cell proliferation and apoptosis in AGS cells and related molecular mechanisms. RESULTS: JTE-522 inhibited the growth of AGS cells and induced the apoptosis. Lucigenin assay showed the generation of ROS in cells under incubation with JTE-522. The increased ROS generation might contribute to the induction of AGS cells to apoptosis. EMSA and Western blot revealed that NF-kB activity was almost completely inhibited by preventing the degradation of IkBalpha. Additionally, by using Western blot we confirmed that the level of bcl-2 was decreased, whereas p53 showed a great increase following JTE-522 treatment. Their changes were in a dose-dependent manner. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that reactive oxygen species, NF-kB, p53, bcl-2 and caspase-3 may play an important role in the induction of apoptosis in AGS cells after treatment with JTE-522.

P53 immunohistochemical scoring:an independent prognostic marker for patients after hepatocellular carcinoma resection

AIM: To confirm if p53 mutation could be a routine predictive marker for the prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. METHODS: Two hundreds and forty-four formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tumor samples of the patients with HCC receiving liver resection were detected for nuclear accumulation of p53. The percent of P53 immunoreactive tumor cells was scored as 0 to 3+ in P53 positive region (【10% -, 10-30% +, 31-50% ++, 】50% +++). Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and some clinicopathological characteristics, including patients' sex, preoperative serum AFP level, tumor size, capsule, vascular invasion (both visual and microscopic), and Edmondson grade were also evaluated. RESULTS: In univariate COX harzard regression model analysis, tumor size, capsule status, vascular invasion, and p53 expression were independent factors that were closely related to the overall survival (OS) rates of HCC patients. The survival rates of patients with 3+ for P53 expression were much lower than those with 2+ or + for P53 expression. Only vascular invasion (P【0.05) and capsule (P【0.01) were closely related to the disease-free survival (DFS) of HCC patients. In multivariate analysis, p53 overexpression (RI 0.5456, P【0.01) was the most significant factor associated with the OS rates of patients after HCC resection, while tumor size (RI 0.5209, P【0.01), vascular invasion (RI 0.5271, P【0.01) and capsule (RI-0.8691, P【0.01) were also related to the OS. However, only tumor capsular status was an independent predictive factor (P【0.05) for the DFS. No significant prognostic value was found in PCNA-LI, Edmondson's grade, patients' sex and preoperative serum AFP level. CONCLUSION: Accumulation of p53 expression, as well as tumor size, capsule and vascular invasion, could be valuable markers for predicting the prognosis of HCC patients after resection. The quantitative immunohistochemical scoring for P53 nuclear accumulation might be more valuable for predicting prognosis of patients after HCC resection than the common qualitative analysis.

The effect of adenovirus expressing wild-type p53 on 5-fluorouracil chemosensitivity is related to p53 status in pancreatic cancer cell lines

AIM:There are conflicting data about p53 function on cellular sensitivity to the cytotoxic action of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). Therefore the objective of this study was to determine the combined effects of adenovirus-mediated wild-type (wt) p53 gene transfer and 5-FU chemotherapy on pancreatic cancer cells with different p53 gene status. METHODS:Human pancreatic cancer cell lines Capan-1^(p53mut), Capan-2^(p53wt),FAMPAC^(p53mut),PANC1^(p53mut),and rat pancreatic cancer cell lines AS^(p53wt) and DSL6A^(p53null) were used for in vitro studies.Following infection with different ratios of Ad- p53-particles (MOI) in combination with 5-FU,proliferation of tumor cells and apoptosis were quantified by cell proliferation assay (WST-1) and FACS (PI-staining).In addition,DSL6A syngeneic pancreatic tumor cells were inoculated subcutaneously in to Lewis rats for in vivo studies. Tumor size,apoptosis (TUNEL) and survival were determined. RESULTS:Ad-p53 gene transfer combined with 5-FU significantly inhibited tumor cell proliferation and substantially enhanced apoptosis in all four cell lines with an alteration in the p53 gene compared to those two cell lines containing wt-p53.In vivo experiments showed the most effective tumor regression in animals treated with Ad-p53 plus 5-FU.Both in vitro and in vivo analyses revealed that a sublethal dose of Ad-p53 augmented the apoptotic response induced by 5-FU. CONCLUSION:Our results suggest that Ad-p53 may synergistically enhance 5-FU-chemosensitivity most strikingly in pancreatic cancer cells lacking p53 function.These findings illustrate that the anticancer efficacy of this combination treatment is dependent on the p53 gene status of the target tumor cells.

Analysis of p53 and vascular endothelial growth factor expression in human gallbladder carcinoma for the determination of tumor vascularity

AIM： To examine the expression of p53 and vascular endothelial growth factor （VEGF） as well as microvessel count （MVC） and to investigate the role of VEGF as an angiogenic marker and the possible role of p53 in the regulation of angiogenesis in human gallbladder carcinoma. METHODS： Surgically resected specimens of 49 gallbladder carcinomas were studied by immunohistochemical staining for p53 protein, VEGF, and factor VIII-related antigen. VEGF expression and mutant p53 expression were then correlated with Nevin stage, differentiation grade, MVC, and lymph node metastasis. RESULTS： Positive p53 protein and VEGF expressions were found in 61.2% and 63.3% of tumors, respectively. p53 and VEGF staining status was identical in 55.1% of tumors. The Nevin staging of p53- or VEGF-positive tumors was significantly later than that of negative tumors. The MVC in p53- or VEGF-positive tumors was significantly higher than that in negative tumors, and MVC in both p53- and VEGF-negative tumors was significantly lower than that in the other subgroups. CONCLUSION： Our findings suggest that pS3-VEGF pathway can regulate tumor angiogenesis in human gallbladder carcinoma. Combined analysis of p53 and VEGF expression might be useful for predicting the tumor vascularity of gallbladder cancer.

Expression of nitric oxide synthase in human gastric carcinoma and its relation to p53, PCNA

AIM: To investigate the expression of NOS in gastric carcinoma, and to explore the relationship between the expression of nitric oxide synthases (NOS) and p53, PCNA,pathological features and clinical staging of gastric cancer.METHODS: The activity of NOS protein was investigated in 85 samples of human gastric carcinoma and 25 samples of normal gastric mucosal tissue by biochemical assay. We then examined the expression of NOS, p53, PCNA in 85 samples of human gastric cancer was examined by immunohistochemistry, and NOS mRNA expression in 85 gastric cancer tissue specimens by in situ hybridization.RESULTS: Biochemical assay showed that the activity of NOS was significantly higher in gastric carcinoma than in normal gastric mucosal tissues (t = 0.4161, P＜0.01).Immunohistochemistry revealed that endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) expressed in all samples of normal gastric mucosa, but only 6 cases of 85 gastric cancer specimens showed weak positive immunohistochemical reactions to eNOS (20%). Inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) was expressed strongly in human gastric carcinoma (81.2%). In situ hybridization analysis showed that iNOS mRNA expression was significantly stronger than eNOS mRNA expression in gastric cancer tissue (x2 = 10.23, P＜0.01). The expression of iNOS in gastric cancer was associated with differentiation, clinical stages or lymph node metastases (r= 0.3426, P＜0.05). However,iNOS expression did not correlate with histological classifications and morphological types. The expression of iNOS was significantly correlated with p53 or PCNA expression (r = 0.3612, P＜0.05). The expression of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) was not examined by immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization in gastric cancer specimens and normal gastric mucosa.CONCLUSION: In human gastric cancer, there is an enhanced expression of iNOS, but not of eNOS. NOS promotes the proliferation of tumor cells and plays an important role in gastric cancer spread. Inactivation of antioncogene p53 and overexpression of iNOS might play a synergetic role in the process of carcinogenesis of human gastric carcinoma.

Relationship between therapeutic efficacy of arterial infusion chemotherapy and expression of P-glycoprotein and p53 protein in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma

AIM： To investigate the relationship between the chemotherapeutic drug efficacy and the expression of P-glycoprotein （PGP） and p53 protein in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC）. METHODS： The study was conducted on 41 patients with advanced HCC who were treated by repeated arterial infusion chemotherapy. Biopsy specimens from the tumor were collected before the start of treatment in all the patients, and the specimens were stored frozen until immunohistochemical staining, which was performed after the start of treatment, to detect PGP and p53 protein expressions. Twenty of the fortyone patients were treated with an anthracycline drug （epirubicin hydrochloride; anthracycline group）, and the remaining 21 were treated with a non-anthracycline drug （mitoxantrone hydrochloride in 11 patients and carboplatin in 10 patients; non-anthracycline group）. The relationship between the chemotherapeutic efficacy and the results of immunostaining were compared between the two groups. RESULTS： Before the start of the treatment, PGPpositive rate was 90.2% （strongly-positive, 36.6%） and p53 protein-positive rate was 34.1% （strongly-positive, 19.5%）. In the anthracycline group, the response rate was 40.0%. The number of patients showing poor response to the treatment was significantly larger in the patients with strongly positive PGP expression （P= 0.005）, and their prognoses were poor （P= 0.001）. in the nonanthracycline group, the response rate was 42.9%,and there was no significant relationship between the chemotherapeutic drug efficacy and the PGP or p53 protein expression. When only the data from the 11 patients treated with anthraquinone drug, mitoxantrone, were analyzed, however, the number of patients who showed poor response to treatment was significantly higher among the p53-positive patients （P= 0.012）, irrespective of the survival outcome. CONCLUSION： The chemotherapeutic efficacy with an anthracycline drug for advanced HCC can be predicted by immunohistochemical analysis of PGP expression. Similarly, immunostaining to evaluate p53 protein may be useful to predict the response in patients treated with an anthraquinone drug.

DNA PLOIDY，EXPRESSION OF p53 PROTEIN AND METASTATIC BEHAVIOUR OF GASTRIC CARCINOMA

DNA ploidy of 57 gastric carcinomas with metastases(12 liver,1 adrenal,4 ovary and 48 lymph node) were measured by flow cytometry.DNA anueploidy was significantly related to liver metastases:9 out of 12 gastric carcinomas with liver metastases were anueploid(75%) as compared to 13 out of 45(28.8%) of cases without liver metastases(P<0.01);the one gastric carcinoma with adrenal metastasis was also anueploid.DNA ploidy was not related to ovarian or lymph node metastases.Another interesting finding was that all of 3 gastric carcinomas with liver metastases which showed a diploid DNA pattern,expressed p53 protein, while all of 3 carcinomas with liver metastases but no p53 protein expression were anueploid.The expression of p53 protein was not related to ovarian metastases.The results suggested that an anueploid DNA pattern and the expression of p53 protein are both objective markers valuable in predicting high risk potential of metastases to the liver,and that the combined detection of these markers can be a most useful method in the follow-up of Patients with gastric carcinoma in detecting those at high risk of developing metastases following surgical resection.Also the poorer prognosis of Patients with gastric carcinoma showing an anueploid DNA pattern may be related to the development of distant organ metastases through the blood vascular system.Furthermore,the clone of gastric carcinoma cells which accumulate p53protein or show an anueploid DNA pattern may have a causative role in the development of liver(&.adrenal) metastases.

Tumor-specific lytic path“hyperploid progression mediated death”:Resolving side effects through targeting retinoblastoma or p53 mutant

A major advance was made to reduce the side effects of cancer therapy via the elucidation of the tumor-specific lytic path“hyperploid progression-mediated death”targeting retinoblastoma(Rb)or p53-mutants defective in G1 DNA damage checkpoint.The genetic basis of human cancers was uncovered through the cloning of the tumor suppressor Rb gene.It encodes a nuclear DNA-binding protein whose self-interaction is regulated by cyclin-dependent kinases.A 3Dstructure of Rb dimer is shown,confirming its multimeric status.Rb assumes a central role in cell cycle regulation and the“Rb pathway”is universally inactivated in human cancers.Hyperploidy refers to a state in which cells contain one or more extra chromosomes.Hyperploid progression occurs due to continued cell-cycling without cytokinesis in G1 checkpoint-defective cancer cells.The evidence for the triggering of hyperploid progression-mediated death in RBmutant human retinoblastoma cells is shown.Hence,the very genetic mutation that predisposes to cancer can be exploited to induce lethality.The discovery helped to establish the principle of targeted cytotoxic cancer therapy at the mechanistic level.By triggering the lytic path,targeted therapy with tumor specificity at the genetic level can be developed.It sets the stage for systematically eliminating side effects for cytotoxic cancer therapy.

Effect of Electroacupuncture on Expression of p53 Protein in Cerebral Cortex of Rats with Global Cerebral Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury

Objective: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on expression of p53 protein in cerebral cortex of senile rats with global cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (IR) injury and to explore its mechanism. Methods: The cerebral IR injury rat model was established referring to Pulsinelli 4-vessel occlusion method. Thirty-six SD rats were randomly and evenly divided into the control group, the IR group and the IR plus EA (IR-EA) group. The animals in the control group were subjected to electrocauterization of vertebral arteries in bilateral flank orifice alone with the general carotid arteries unoccluded. To rats in the IR-EA group, immediately and 24h, 48h, 72h after cerebral IR, EA treatment on bilateral acupoint 'Zusanli' (ST36) was applied once a day, lasting for 60 minutes. After the final treatment, all the rats were sacrificed and their brains were taken to examine p53 protein expression by the immunohistochemical method. Results: Cells with positive p53 immunoreactivity in the cerebral cortex of rats in the IR group was significantly higher than that in the control group ( P<0. 05), while that in the IR-EA group was significantly lower than that in the IR group ( P<0. 05). Conclusion: EA could remarkably reduce expression of p53 protein in the cerebral cortex of senile rats with global cerebral IR injury, which might be one of the means for EA to inhibit neuronal ap-optosis after cerebral IR injury.

Roles of syndecan-1, bcl6 and p53 in diagnosis and prognostication of immunoproliferative small intestinal disease

AIM： To evaluate roles of syndecan-1, bcl6 and p53 in diagnosis and prognostication of immunoproliferative small intestinal disease （IPSID） and to study profiles of kappa （κ） and lambda （λ） light chains and IgA heavy chain. METHODS： The study consisted of 11 cases of IPSID and similar number of controls which included 11 of normal intestinal mucosa and 11 of high grade B cell lymphoma of ileum. The parameters analyzed included clinical profiles, biochemical and other laboratory investigations, radiologic and histological findings including immunohistochemistry. RESULTS： All IPSID cases had demonstrable serum IgA heavy chain and heavy mucosal plasma cell infiltration. According to Galian＇s histological staging, there were 4 patients with stage A and 7 with stage B. κ and ;λ light chains were over-expressed in 7 patients; 1 stage A patient had H pylori-positive active gastritis and eradication of H pylori led to disease remission. Stage A biopsies had higher expression for syndecan-1, while stage B had higher expression for bcl6 and p53. Syndecan-1,κ and λ light chains and IgA heavy chain showed inverse relationship with bcl6 and p53. All patients were treated with doxycycline. CHOP regime was added in 5 patients who developed frank lymphoma. Three died of the disease due to extensive organ infiltration. CONCLUSION： Certain immunomarkers like syndecan-1,κ and λ light chains and IgA heavy chain could be of much help in identifying early stage IPSID. Stage B IPSID showed higher expression for bcl6 and p53 than stage A IPSID. bcl6 and p53 expressions correlated with a more advanced disease stage and aggressive tumour behavior.

EXPRESSION OF P53 PROTEIN AND PROLIFERATING CELL NUCLEAR ANTIGEN IN HUMAN GESTATION TROPHOBLASTIC DISEASE

To study the relationship between p53 protein, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) expression and benign or malignant gestational trophoblastic disease (MGTD). Methods: The histotomic sections of 48 patients with gestational trophoblastic disease and 24 patients of normal chorionic villi were stained using immunohistochemistry. The monoclonal antibodies were used to determine p53 protein and PCNA. Results: The frequency of p53 and PCNA positive expression were significantly different among the chorionic villi of normal pregnancy, hydratidiform mole (HM) and MGTD. But neither p53 nor PCNA has any relation with the clinical staging or metastasis of MGTD. Conclusion: Both P53 and PCNA are valuable in diagnosis of human gestational trophoblastic disease.

Correlation and Expression of COX-2 and P53 Protein in Basal Cell Carcinoma of Eyelid

The correlation between the expression of COX-2 and p53 protein in basal cell carcinoma （BCC） of eyelid and apoptosis was investigated. Specimens of BCC were collected from 40 cases （aged 28-68 y） at the Department of Pathology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, and Department of Pathology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University during from 1999 to 2006. Five specimens of paracancerous tissues served as control group. Immunohistochemical staining was performed to detect the expression of COX-2 and p53 in the tissues. The average absorbance （A） and the average positive area rate of COX-2 and p53 protein were measured by image analysis. The positive area rate of COX-2 and p53 protein was analyzed by linear correlation analysis. It was found that COX-2 and p53 proteins were highly expressed in BCC of eyelid, and weakly expressed in paracancerous tissues. Image analysis revealed that the expression of COX-2 and p53 proteins in BCC of eyelid was sig- nificantly higher than that in paracancerous tissues （P〈0.01）. Spearman rank correlation analysis demonstrated a positive correlation between the expression of COX-2 and p53 （r=0.113, P=0.421）. It was concluded that COX-2 can increase the expression of p53 protein, therefore suppressing apoptosis.

Preparation of monoclonal antibody to P53 and its clinical application

Objective：The aim of this study was to prepare monoclonal antibody against P53, a kind of tumor suppressor protein,and use the antibody initial y in clinical immunoassay. Methods：Monoclonal antibody was prepared and identified via the classic protocol of monoclonal antibody preparation. Identified monoclonal antibodies were purified by af inity chro-matography. Antibody titer was determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. The specific binding activity of antibody was detected by Western blotting and immunohistochemistry. Results：Three strains of monoclonal antibodies named 1P15, 2P37 and 3P40 were obtained and purified by af inity chromatography. The purity of antibodies was higher than 90%. The titers of antibodies were more than 1：6000. Western blot and immunohistochemistry assay showed that the specific antibody can combine with endogenous P53 protein in the tumor celllines and determine the expression of P53 in tumor tis-sue. Conclusion：Three strains of monoclonal antibodies with high af inity to P53 were successful y established, which can be used for detecting the expression of P53 in tumor cells or tissue.

Human papillomavirus and p53 protein immunoreactivity in condylomata acuminatum and squamous cell carcinoma of penis

Aim: To determine the immunoreactive pattern of human papillomavirus (HPV) antigen and p53 protein in condylo-mata acuminatum (CA) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of penis. Methods: Immunohistochemistry for HPVand p53 were performed in 40 specimens of formalin fixed, paraffin embedded tissues using a polyclonal (rabbit) anti-body against HPV and a monoclonal (mouse) antibody against human p53 protein. Twenty one cases of CA and nine-teen cases of SCC were examined. Results: HPV antigen was detected in all 21 CA and 2 penile SCC. p53 proteinoverexpression was observed in 12 of 19 (63%) SCC in which 6 cases were strong positive. Five of 21 CA (24%)showed low-grade p53 protein overexpression. Conclusion; CA is related to HPV infection and some cases showp53 protein low-grade overexpression. In contrast, p53 protein overexpression is common in penile SCC, which is sel-dom related to HPV infection. (Asian J Androl 2001 Mar; 3: 75-77)

Lack of correlation between p53 codon 72 polymorphism and anal cancer risk

AIM:To investigate the potential role of p53 codon 72 polymorphism as a risk factor for development of anal cancer. METHODS:Thirty-two patients with invasive anal carcinoma and 103 healthy blood donors were included in the study.p53 codon 72 polymorphism was analyzed in blood samples through polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism and DNA sequencing. RESULTS:The relative frequency of each allele was 0.60 for Arg and 0.40 for Pro in patients with anal cancer, and 0.61 for Arg and 0.39 for Pro in normal controls. No significant differences in distribution of the codon 72 genotypes between patients and controls were found. CONCLUSION:These results do not support a role for the p53 codon 72 polymorphism in anal carcinogenesis.

DETECTION OF POINT MUTATION OF p53 GENE BY SILVER STAINING PCR-SSCP IN PARAFFIN-EMBEDDED MALIGNANT FIBROUS HISTIOCYTOMA

Silver staining PCR-SSCP method was used to detect point mutation of p53 gene in paraffin-embedded malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) tissues. The abnormal shifting of the single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) was identified in 9 out of 16 cases (56.3%). The positive figure of SSCP was 1, 4, 4, 3 in exon 5, 6, 7, 8, respectively. The mutant of p53 protein was detected by microwave oven treatment and ABC immunohistochemistry. Positive nuclear staining was observed in 10 cases (62.5%). The positive coincidence rate was 90.0% between SSCP and p53 protein expression. The mutation of p53 gene was not correlated with the subtypes of MFH. Our results indicate that detection of point mutations with silver staining PCR-SSCP is convenient, rapid and reliable in the screening of point mutation of genes.