PCR-SSCP ANALYSIS OF THE P53 GENE IN TUMORS OF THE ADRENAL-GLAND

1. Mutations of the p53 tumour suppressor gene are relatively common i n the aetiology of a wide spectrum of tumour types, both sporadic and familial. 2. The majority of mutations of the p53 gene are reported to be in the highly conserved region of exons 5-8, 3. Alterations in exo ns 4, 5 and 7 of the p53 gene in patients with functional adrenal tumo urs, including aldosterone-producing adenomas, have recently been desc ribed, 4. In the present study PCR-SSCP was used to examine the exons 4-9 of the p53 gene in paired peripheral blood leucocyte and tumour DN A in a variety of adrenal tumours, including aldosterone-producing car cinoma and adenoma (both familial and sporadic), phaeochromocytoma and incidentaloma, 5. No evidence was found for mutations in exons 4-9 of the p53 gene in these varieties of adrenal tumours.