p53 mutations and presence of HPV DNA do not correlate with radiosensitivity of gynecological cancer cell lines

Objective. The correlation between p53 tumor suppressor gene mutations and the presence of high-risk human papillomavirus (IBV) DNA with the in vitro radiosensitivity of gynecological malignancies was studied in 26 cell lines derived from gynecological cancers of 23 patients. Methods. Comparison of the intrinsic radiosensitivity was performed with me an inactivation dose ((D) over bar) determined with the 96-well plate clono genic assay. p53 mutations were investigated with polymerase chain reaction and single-strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) analysis and direct DNA sequencing, and the presence of HPV DNA was studied with PCR using HPV consensus primers. Results. p53 mutations were found in 6 of 10 vulvar squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) lines, Nine vulvar and 1 vaginal SCC cell lines were HPV DNA negativ e and 1 vulvar cell line was HPV 16 positive, All 4 cervical SCC lines were HPV positive and possessed the wild-type p53, Three cell lines expressed H PV 16 and 1 HPV 68, Among 10 endometrial cancer cell lines, 2 cell lines wi th mutant p53 and 1 HPV 16 positive cell line were found. No correlation co uld be demonstrated between inactivation of the p53 gene and radiosensitivi ty in vitro; the cell lines were evaluated as one group or according to the ir anatomical origin or histology. Conclusion. Our results indicate that inactivation of the p53 gene through mutation or binding with HPV DNA does not increase the resistance of gyneco logical malignancies to ionizing radiation in vitro, (C) 1998 Academic Pres s.