DETECTION OF C-MYB GENETIC ALTERATIONS AND MUTANT P53 SERUM-PROTEIN IN PATIENTS WITH BENIGN AND MALIGNANT COLON LESIONS

C-myb structural alterations were analysed by Southern blot hybridizat ion in 55 adenomatous polyps and 21 adenocarcinomas of the colon. Gene amplification was observed in 8 cases (14.5%) and c-myb rearrangement s in 3 cases (5.4%) of the preneoplastic lesions analysed. A higher pe rcentage of c-myb abnormalities (23.8%) was shown by malignant tumors. As far as mutant p53 protein is concerned, it was detected both in se ra of adenoma and adenocarcinoma patients, though at different levels. No statistically significant correlations were found between c-myb or p53 abnormalities and clinico-pathological variables.