p53 codon 72 polymorphism and various human papillomavirus 16 E6 genotypesare risk factors for cervical cancer development

Risk factors other than human papillomavirus (HPV) infection per se for cer vical cancer development have been investigated recently. It was suggested that HPV 16 E6 variants and the p53 codon 72 arginine polymorphism could be progression markers, Indeed, it has been demonstrated that specific E6 var iants and p53 arginine were both enriched in cancer, However, especially wi th regard to the latter, divergent results have been reported. Our aim was thus to investigate whether p53 arginine is important for cervical carcinog enesis by scaling up samples of the two European cohorts, the initial resul ts of which were reported previously. In addition, we have assessed the occ urrence of p53 codon 72 arginine, in combination with specific HPV 16 Ed ge notypes, We found p53 arginine to be increased in cancer of both cohorts, c onsistent with our previous concept, Although specific Ed genotypes increas ed gradually with the severity of the lesion, p53 arginine was enriched in cancer only, Moreover, the frequency of the arginine allele was similar in groups with different Ed genotypes, It is concluded that p53 arginine is a risk factor for cervical cancer but probably acts independently of E6 varia nts.