We have previously described 10 astrocytomas with accumulation of p53
protein but no mutations in p53 exons 5-8, and we have suggested that
they might represent overexpression of wild type protein or mutations
in less conserved regions of the gene. To investigate these possibilit
ies further, we studied the tumors with immunohistochemistry for wild
type and mutant p53 protein and showed that all cases stained with the
wild type PAb 1801 antibody but only one case stained with the mutant
-specific PAb 240 antibody. To support the hypothesis that the accumul
ated p53 protein is wild type in most cases, we used single-strand con
formation polymorphism analysis and DNA sequencing to evaluate p53 exo
ns 4, 9, and 10 and did not detect mutations at these loci. Although t
he product of the MDM2 oncogene binds wild type p53 and may account fo
r p53 accumulation, slot-blot analysis of these astrocytOmas did not d
etect MDM2 gene amplification. Thus, evidence suggests that some astro
cytomas may accumulate wild type p53 protein but not as a result of MD
M2 gene amplification. Furthermore, PAb 1801 immunohistochemistry may
not be an adequate method of screening astrocytomas for p53 mutations.