THE MOLECULAR EPIDEMIOLOGY OF P53 GENE-MUTATIONS IN HUMAN BREAST-CANCER

The P53 tumor-suppressor gene is an advantageous tool for analyzing th e molecular epidemiology of cancer. We describe the utility of the P53 gene as a 'mutagen test' and a prognostic indicator in breast cancer. Aspects of study design and methodology are discussed Two major concl usions emerge: (1) there is an extraordinary diversity of mutational p atterns among coborts, hinting that the unique biology of mammary cell s results in exposure to high doses of a diversity of ingested lipophi lic mutagens; and (2) mutations in the P53 gene predict poor outcome i n breast cancer.