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In primary human breast carcinomas mutations in exons 5 and 6 of the p53 gene are associated with a high s‐phase index
Author(s) -
Merlo Giorgio R.,
Bernardi Amelia,
Diella Francesca,
Venesio Tiziana,
Cappa Alberto P. M.,
Callahan Robert,
Liscia Daniel S.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
international journal of cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.475
H-Index - 234
eISSN - 1097-0215
pISSN - 0020-7136
DOI - 10.1002/ijc.2910540402
Subject(s) - exon , point mutation , biology , mutation , gene , microbiology and biotechnology , genetics , gene mutation , cancer research
A series of 121 human breast tumors was screened for point mutations in exons 5 through 8 of the p53 gene, by SSCP analysis. On the same tumor samples, the S‐phase index (SPI) was determined by the incorporation of BUdR in fresh tissue. p53 mutations were observed in 29% of the cases. The frequency of point mutations for the individual exons was: exon 5, 10.0%; exon 6, 9.9%; exon 7, 7.1% and exon 8, 5.5%. Two mutations detected by SSCP were confirmed by sequencing the p53 cDNA. The presence of a p53 mutation, irrespective of its location, correlates ( p = 0.003) with a high SPI. This association appears to primarily reflect mutations in exon 5 ( p = 0.0002) and exon 6 ( p = 0.05), since mutations in exons 7 and 8 failed to show any association. These results indicate that mutations in the p53 gene identify highly proliferating tumors, and that the position of the p53 mutation may have different effects upon the proliferative activity of tumor cells in vivo .