PREVALENCE OF P53 MUTATIONS IN PATIENTS WITH SQUAMOUS-CELL CARCINOMA OF THE ESOPHAGUS

Squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus has an uneven geographic dist ribution with a strong prevalence in the South Carolina Lowcountry. Al though many environmental influences and some genetic factors have bee n implicated in its development, the molecular events required for tum origenesis have not been defined. Point mutations in the p53 tumor sup pressor gene are the most commonly noted genetic defect in human tumor s. Our study shows that p53 point mutations occur more frequently in p atients wit esophageal cancer from this region than in patients from o ther areas of the world where the disease is prevalent.