P53 MUTATIONS IN ALL STAGES OF THYROID CARCINOMAS

Citation
Mj. Zou et al., P53 MUTATIONS IN ALL STAGES OF THYROID CARCINOMAS, The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism, 77(4), 1993, pp. 1054-1058
Citations number
27
Categorie Soggetti
Endocrynology & Metabolism
ISSN journal
0021972X
Volume
77
Issue
4
Year of publication
1993
Pages
1054 - 1058
Database
ISI
SICI code
0021-972X(1993)77:4<1054:PMIASO>2.0.ZU;2-Q
Abstract
The p53 gene has been implicated as a tumor suppressor gene whose inac tivation by mutations has been noted in a variety of human malignancie s. Using single strand conformation polymorphism analysis of cDNA frag ments amplified by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, we analyzed 57 thyroid tumor specimens (8 follicular adenomas and 49 car cinomas) for the presence of mutations in exons 5, 6, 7, and 8 of p53 gene. Twelve of 49 (24.5%) of the thyroid carcinomas tested presented a mutated p53 allele, but none of the 8 benign thyroid tumors did. Mut ations were found in 1 of 5 anaplastic carcinomas and 11 of 44 differe ntiated carcinomas. Three of these 11 differentiated tumor specimens s howed foci of solid tissue with evidence of dedifferentiation. Two sam ples (1 with anaplastic carcinoma, the other with papillary carcinoma) had double mutations on the same allele resulting in a frameshift. Mo st mutations were point mutations, and 50% of those were G:C to A:T tr ansitions. Seventy-five percent of the mutations were in exons 7 and 8 . The presence of p53 mutations was not associated with tumor stage or histological type. Our data suggest that p53 mutations are involved i n thyroid carcinogenesis and may play an important role in the maligna nt transformation of thyroid cells as well as thyroid tumor progressio n.