P53 ONCOGENE MUTATIONS IN HUMAN PROSTATE-CANCER SPECIMENS

Eighty-five prostate cancer specimens from prostate resections were an alyzed for the presence of p53 gene mutations by immunohistochemical s taining for P53 protein. DNA from thirty-four of these samples was als o analyzed for mutations in exons 5-8 by single-strand chain polymorph ism (SSCP) analysis. One sample had P53 staining by immunohistochemist ry, one sample was positive for a p53 mutation by SSCP, and one sample was positive by both techniques. Mutations in the two samples that we re positive by SSCP were confirmed by nucleotide sequencing. In a sepa rate study of ten lymph nodes that contained prostate cancer metastase s, one had detectable P53 protein by immunohistochemical staining. The refore, p53 mutations appear to be low frequency events in primary pro state cancer.