Germline TP53 alterations in Finnish breast cancer families are rare and occur at conserved mutation-prone sites

We have screened for germline TP53 mutations in Finnish BRCA1 and BRCA2 mut ation-negative families. This study represents the largest survey of the en tire protein-encoding portion of TP53, and indicates that mutations are onl y found at conserved domains in breast cancer families also meeting the cri teria for Li-Fraumeni/Li-Fraumeni-like syndrome, explaining only a very sma ll additional fraction of the hereditary breast cancer cases. (C) 2001 Canc er Research Campaign http://www.bjcancer.com.