MOLECULAR AND IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF P53 IN PHEOCHROMOCYTOMA

We searched for mutations of the p53 gene in 25 phaeochromocytomas usi ng polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism ( PCR-SSCP) analysis of the entire conserved region of the gene, encompa ssing exons 4-8; expression of the p53 protein was assessed by immunoh istochemistry. No mutations were found, while a polymorphism in codon 72 was observed. Immunohistochemistry revealed nuclear p53 overexpress ion in one tumour sample. We conclude that mutations of the 'hotspot' region of the p53 gene do not seem to play a role in the pathogenesis of phaeochromocytoma.