ALTERATIONS OF THE P53 GENE IN EPSTEIN-BARR VIRUS-ASSOCIATED IMMUNODEFICIENCY-RELATED LYMPHOMAS

Mutations of the p53 tumor suppressor gene are among the most common g enetic alterations found in many different human malignancies, includi ng those of the colon, lung, and breast. Alterations in wild-type p53 lead to loss of the suppressor function and thus contribute to tumorig enesis. The potential role of p53 mutations in a sampling of B-cell ly mphomas, the majority of which were associated with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), was investigated. Twenty-six biopsy specimens from immunocompr omised patients, including allograft recipients and patients with AIDS , Wiscott-Aldrich syndrome, and human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 inf ection, in comparison with three Burkitt lymphomas and four Burkitt ly mphoma cell lines were analyzed. Mutation in p53 was detected in all f our Burkitt lymphoma cell lines as well as the three Burkitt lymphoma biopsy specimens. In patients,vith AIDS, 5 of 10 lymphomas were EBV po sitive, and 1 had a mutation in p53. Mutation in p53 was not detected in 14 EBV-positive lymphomas which arose in transplant recipients. The se data indicate that with the exception of Burkitt lymphomas, p53 mut ations are not involved in the majority EBV-positive B-cell lymphomas which develop in immunocompromised patients.