Infrequent genetic alterations of p53, p16 genes and polymorphism in fhit gene in Indian myelodysplastic syndrome

Alterations in the tumor suppressor genes p53, g16, and fhit were studied i n myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) samples of Indian patients. PCR-SSCP analy sis showed evidence for the presence of polymorphism in fhit gene in 7 of 1 5 samples. We failed to get any evidence for mutation in the p53, p16, and fhit genes. These results indicate that mutational inactivation of these ge nes may not play a major role in the development of myelodysplastic syndrom e.