Analysis of the p53 gene in parotid gland cancers: a relatively high frequency of mutations in low-grade mucoepidermoid carcinomas

Mutations and overexpression of the p53 gene and protein were analyzed in 4 0 cases with various types of parotid gland cancers. Mutations were found i n 12 cases (30%), and low-grade mucoepidermoid carcinomas (43%) and highly malignant carcinomas including adenocarcinoma, salivary duct carcinoma, and undifferentiated carcinoma (56%) showed a relatively high frequency of mut ations. Overexpression of the protein was observed in 11 cases (28%) and 4 of the 11 cases also had p53 mutations. These results suggest that mutation s of the p53 gene have significance in certain types of parotid cancers irr espective of the aggressiveness of a tumor type.