p53 codon 72 polymorphism and its association with bladder cancer

The association between human papillomavirus and bladder cancer: Evidence from meta-analysis and two-sample mendelian randomization

INTRODUCTION

Bladder cancer (BCa) is the 10th most common type of cancer worldwide, and human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection. However, the relationship between HPV infection and the risk of BCa is still controversial and inconclusive.

METHODS

This systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted following the PRISMA 2020 reporting guideline. This study searched four bibliographic databases with no language limitation. The databases included PubMed (Medline), EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science. Studies evaluating the interaction between HPV infection and the risk of BCa from inception through May 21, 2022, were identified and used in this study. This study estimated the overall and type-specific HPV prevalence and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) using Random Effects models and Fixed Effects models. In addition, this study also calculated the pooled odds ratio and pooled risk ratio with 95% CI to assess the effect of HPV infection on the risk and prognosis of bladder cancer. Two-sample mendelian randomization (MR) study using genetic variants associated with HPV E7 protein as instrumental variables were also conducted.

RESULTS

This study retrieved 80 articles from the four bibliographic databases. Of the total, 27 were case-control studies, and 53 were cross-sectional studies. The results showed that the prevalence of HPV was 16% (95% CI: 11%-21%) among the BCa patients, most of which were HPV-16 (5.99% [95% CI: 3.03%-9.69%]) and HPV-18 (3.68% [95% CI: 1.72%-6.16%]) subtypes. However, the study found that the prevalence varied by region, detection method, BCa histological type, and sample source. A significantly increased risk of BCa was shown for the positivity of overall HPV (odds ratio [OR], 3.35 [95% CI: 1.75-6.43]), which was also influenced by study region, detection method, histological type, and sample source. In addition, the study found that HPV infection was significantly associated with the progression of BCa (RR, 1.73 [95% CI: 1.39-2.15]). The two-sample MR analysis found that both HPV 16 and 18 E7 protein exposure increased the risk of BCa (HPV 16 E7 protein: IVW OR per unit increase in protein level = 1.0004 [95% CI: 1.0002-1.0006]; p = 0.0011; HPV 18 E7 protein: IVW OR per unit increase in protein level = 1.0003 [95% CI: 1.0001-1.0005]; p = 0.0089).

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, HPV may play a role in bladder carcinogenesis and contribute to a worse prognosis for patients with BCa. Therefore, it is necessary for people, especially men, to get vaccinated for HPV vaccination to prevent bladder cancer.

The association between hepatitis C virus infection and renal cell cancer, prostate cancer, and bladder cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis

To update the current evidence on whether hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection represents a possible risk factor for renal cell cancer (RCC), prostate cancer (PCa), and bladder cancer (BC). We searched the literature on Pubmed, Web of Science, and Embases before April 2021. A systematic review and meta-analysis were performed. Finally, we extracted 12 studies based on the eligible criteria. Across 11 studies for HCV and RCC, the incorporated RR was 1.28 (95% CI 1.05–1.55), which meant that participants with HCV infection were associated with higher RCC risk. The pooled RR in hazard ratio (HR) subgroup (HR 1.59, 95% CI 1.22–2.08), cohort studies subgroup (RR 1.47, 95% CI 1.18–1.82), and North America subgroup (RR 1.71, 95% CI 1.40–2.09) detected a stronger association between HCV and RCC risk. Although an inverse association was seen for PCa (RR 0.75, 95% CI 0.54–1.03) across seven studies, it was not statistically significant (P = 0.075). There was no significant association between HCV and BC with an incorporated RR of 0.92 (95% CI, 0.82–1.03) across five studies. Our study demonstrated that HCV infection was significantly associated with increased RCC risk. There appeared to be an inverse association for HCV in PCa risk but not statistically significant. No significant association was found between HCV and BC risk. Prospective, large-scale, and well-designed cohort studies are required to validate the association between HCV and RCC, and to investigate the role of HCV on PCa.

TP53 codon 72 Polymorphism and bladder cancer risk: a meta-analysis and emphasis on the role of tumor or smoking status

Background: Various studies had explored the relationship between TP53 codon 72 polymorphisms and the risk of bladder cancer (BC). However, their results remained inconsistent and the definite role of smoking or tumor status associated with this polymorphism in BC cases was seldom involved. Hence, this meta-analysis was to disclose such associations. Methods: Systematical and comprehensive retrieval of online databases PubMed, PMC, EMBASE and Web of Science were conducted to obtain eligible studies, up to May 30th, 2018. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were utilized to assess the associations between TP53 codon 72 polymorphisms and BC susceptibilities under five genetic comparison models. Results: Ultimately, this meta-analysis enrolled 22 applicable studies with 3,791 BC cases and 4,917 controls. Our results suggested that the variant genotypes were associated with BC risk in Asian subgroup (allele model: OR=1.19, 95% CI=1.04-1.34; dominant model: OR=1.27, 95% CI=1.06-1.52; homozygote model: OR=1.36, 95% CI=1.03-1.80), while negative outcomes were presented in Caucasians. In the relationship between TP53 codon 72 polymorphisms and BC tumor stage in Asian group, positive results were presented in allele model: OR=1.68, 95% CI=1.04-2.72; dominant model: OR=2.46, 95% CI=1.08-5.61; heterozygous model: OR=2.32, 95% CI=1.04-5.14; homozygote model: OR=2.66, 95% CI=1.04-6.81. However, no evidence was revealed between this polymorphism and BC tumor grade. Besides, significant associations were displayed between TP53 codon 72 polymorphism and smoking status (allele model: OR=1.40, 95% CI=1.06-1.84; dominant model OR=1.72, 95% CI=1.18-2.50; heterozygous model: OR=1.77, 95% CI=1.19-2.64). Conclusion: Taken together, our results shed light on that TP53 codon 72 polymorphism was significantly associated with the susceptibility to BC in Asians. In addition, positive associations were also revealed between this polymorphism and tumor stage/smoking status in BC cases.

Human papilloma virus and genitourinary cancers: a narrative review

INTRODUCTION

Human papilloma virus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted pathogen and its potential role in the genesis of several diseases such as cervical, head and neck, anal and penile cancers, is now largely recognized. Aim of this review article was to evaluate and summarize the state of the art of HPV-related urogenital cancers, focusing on the potentially innovative methods for the diagnosis of infection that should be used to improve viral causative detection and prevent its diffusion through sexual intercourses.

EVIDENCE ACQUISITION

The initial search was carried out by using the Medline and the Google Scholar computerized databases through the selected key-words to identify the more recent literature on HPV epidemiology and its relationship with the main relevant urinary tract cancers. Studies were selected, extracted, analyzed and summarized. The PRISMA statement criteria were adopted and reported.

EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS

Polymerase chain reaction assay (HPV test) represents the best option for the diagnosis of HPV infection. Difficulties for the diagnosis in male are due to the site of investigation (glans, sub coronal sulcus, scrotum, urine, sperm) and the method adopted to take the sample (brushing, tissue biopsy). Due to these reasons several studies analyzed seemed to be incomparable. HPV infection is generally found in about 20% of heterosexual men. Its connection with cervical, anal, head and neck and penile cancer has been previously evidenced in 90%, 60%, 68% and 40% of cases respectively. In particular, HPV infection differed significantly among penile squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) subtypes ranging from 22.4% in verrucous subtype to 66.3% for the basaloid/warty subtype. Although the connection between prostate cancer and HPV infection has never been previously confirmed, forest plot analysis relative to a series of nine studies done during the last ten years, demonstrated a 7.7 objective risk (OR) for subjects with HPV infection to develop subsequent prostate cancer. On the other hand, some authors found comparable results in subjects with prostate cancer, benign prostate hyperplasia and prostate inflammation, thus demonstrating that this link still remains questionable. Similarly, the connection between HPV infection and urothelial, testicular and renal cancer continue to be hotly debated although HPV has been found in the urine, semen and renal tissue of patients respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Integrated parts of HPV (E6 and E7 fractions) have been previously found in cervical, head and neck, anal and penile cancers. Conversely, although the evidence of concomitant HPV infection, integrated viral genome in cancer cells DNA had never been demonstrated in all the other genito-urinary tract cancers, and its role in the tumor genesis remain still largely debated. This is the reason why HPV infection should be tested in all patients with genitourinary cancer to better investigate about its potential role in the tumor genesis and development. Moreover, HPV infection option should be kept in mind when considering possible viral transmission to sexual partners.

Assessment of DNA repair susceptibility genes identified by whole exome sequencing in head and neck cancer

Head and neck cancer (HNC), the sixth most common cancer globally, stands second in India. In Northeast (NE) India, it is the sixth most common cause of death in males and seventh in females. Prolonged tobacco and alcohol consumption constitute the major etiological factors for HNC development, which induce DNA damage. Therefore, DNA repair pathway is a crucial system in maintaining genomic integrity and preventing carcinogenesis. The present work was aimed to predict the consequence of significant germline variants of the DNA repair genes in disease predisposition. Whole exome sequencing was performed in Ion Proton™ platform on 15 case-control samples from the HNC-prevalent states of Manipur, Mizoram, and Nagaland. Variant annotation was done in Ion Reporter™ as well as wANNOVAR. Subsequent statistical and bioinformatics analysis identified significant exonic and intronic variants associated with HNC. Amongst our observed variants, 78.6% occurred in ExAC, 94% reported in dbSNP and 5.8% & 9.3% variants were present in ClinVar and HGMD, respectively. The total variants were dispersed among 199 genes with DSBR and FA pathway being the most mutated pathways. The allelic association test suggested that the intronic variants in HLTF and RAD52 gene significantly associated (P < 0.05) with the risk (OR > 5), while intronic variants in PARP4, RECQL5, EXO1 and PER1 genes and exonic variant in TDP2 gene showed protection (OR < 1) for HNC. MDR analysis proposed the exonic variants in MSH6, BRCA2, PALB2 and TP53 genes and intronic variant in RECQL5 genetic region working together during certain phase of DNA repair mechanism for HNC causation. In addition, other intronic and 3'UTR variations caused modifications in the transcription factor binding sites and miRNA target sites associated with HNC. Large-scale validation in NE Indian population, in-depth structure prediction and subsequent simulation of our recognized polymorphisms is necessary to identify true causal variants related to HNC.

RNA-Seq reveals the existence of a CDKN1C-E2F1-TP53 axis that is altered in human T-cell lymphoblastic lymphomas

Background

Precursor T-cell lymphoblastic lymphomas (T-LBL) are rare aggressive hematological malignancies that mainly develop in children. As in other cancers, the loss of cell cycle control plays a prominent role in the pathogenesis in these malignancies that is primarily attributed to loss of CDKN2A (encoding protein p16INK4A). However, the impact of the deregulation of other genes such as CDKN1C, E2F1, and TP53 remains to be clarified. Interestingly, experiments in mouse models have proven that conditional T-cell specific deletion of Cdkn1c gene may induce a differentiation block at the DN3 to DN4 transition, and that the loss of this gene in the absence of Tp53 led to aggressive thymic lymphomas.

Results

In this manuscript, we demonstrated that the simultaneous deregulation of CDKN1C, E2F1, and TP53 genes by epigenetic mechanisms and/or the deregulation of specific microRNAs, together with additional impairing of TP53 function by the expression of dominant-negative isoforms are common features in primary human T-LBLs.

Conclusions

Previous experimental work in mice revealed that T-cell specific deletion of Cdkn1c accelerates lymphomagenesis in the absence of Tp53. If, as expected, the consequences of the deregulation of the CDKN1C-E2F1-TP53 axis were the same as those experimentally demonstrated in mouse models, the disruption of this axis might be useful to predict tumor aggressiveness, and to provide the basis towards the development of potential therapeutic strategiesin human T-LBL.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12885-018-4304-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Bladder Tumor Markers: A Review of the Literature

Bladder cancer is among the top eight most frequent cancers. Its natural history is related to a combination of factors that impact on its aggressiveness. Cystoscopy and urine cytology are the currently used techniques for the diagnosis and surveillance of non-invasive bladder tumors. The sensitivity of urine cytology for diagnosis is not high, particularly in low-grade tumors. The combination of voided urine cytology and new diagnostic urine tests would be ideal for the diagnosis and follow-up of bladder cancer. However, in order to have some clinical utility, new diagnostic and/or prognostic markers should achieve better predictive capacity that the currently used diagnostic tools. None of the markers evaluated over the last years showed remarkable sensitivity or specificity for the identification of any of the diverse types of bladder cancer in clinical practice. The limitations of the known prognostic markers have led to the research of new molecular markers for early detection of bladder cancer. This research focused in particular on the discovery of biomarkers capable of reducing the need for periodic cystoscopies or, ideally, offering a non-invasive examination instead. In this review, we will examine various new markers of bladder cancer and their value in the diagnosis and follow-up of non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer. When compared with urine cytology, which showed the highest specificity, most of these markers demonstrated an increased sensitivity.

TP53 Gene Pro72Arg (rs1042522) Single Nucleotide Polymorphism as Not a Risk Factor for Colorectal Cancer in the Iranian Azari Population

Background:

The p53 protein participates critically in several cellular functions such as cell growth and DNA repair. Polymorphisms in the TP53locus have repeatedly been implicated in the pathogenesis of cancers all over the world. Over 200 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have been characterized, but one well-known example at at codon 72, Pro72Arg(rs1042522), has the displayed inconsistent results with regard to cancer risk. Herein, we aimed to evaluate whether Pro72Arg(rs1042522) single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in TP53gene might be associated with risk of colorectal cancer in the Iranian Azari population.

Methods:

Blood samples were taken from 100 healthy controls and 100 colorectal cancer patients with Iranian-Azeri ethnicity. Genotyping was performed with Tetra-ARMS PCR.

Results:

The alleles of the TP53gene Pro72ArgSNP did not significantly differ in prevalence between patients and controls (P>0.05). Additionally, genotypes of Pro72ArgSNP were not significantly associated with colorectal cancer risk in the studied population.

Conclusions:

Pro72ArgSNP of TP53gene may not be involved in the disease pathogenesis in Iranian Azari patients with colorectal cancer.

Detection of HPV genotypes and their association with p53 codon 72 polymorphism in prostate cancer

Aim: In this study, we focused on the p53 codon 72 polymorphism and HPV infections as a possible contributing factor in susceptibility to prostate cancer (PCa). Methods: Eighty histopathologically confirmed prostate biopsies comprising of 40 cancer cases and 40 benign prostate hyperplasia cases were used. Results: A significant difference was not observed between HPV presence and PCa progression. Our results showed that the p53 protein with Arg (p53-Arg72) variant contributes to the development of PCa. Conclusion: There is a near-significant association between Arg/Arg polymorphism and PCa.

Association of p53 codon72 Arg>Pro polymorphism with susceptibility to nasopharyngeal carcinoma: evidence from a case-control study and meta-analysis

Tumor suppressor p53 is a critical player in the fight against cancer as it controls the cell cycle check point, apoptotic pathways and genomic stability. It is known to be the most frequently mutated gene in a wide variety of human cancers. Single-nucleotide polymorphism of p53 at codon72 leading to substitution of proline (Pro) in place of arginine (Arg) has been identified as a risk factor for development of many cancers, including nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). However, the association of this polymorphism with NPC across the published literature has shown conflicting results. We aimed to conduct a case–control study for a possible relation of p53 codon72 Arg>Pro polymorphism with NPC risk in underdeveloped states of India, combine the result with previously available records from different databases and perform a meta-analysis to draw a more definitive conclusion. A total of 70 NPC patients and 70 healthy controls were enrolled from different hospitals of north-eastern India. The p53 codon72 Arg>Pro polymorphism was typed by polymerase chain reaction, which showed an association with NPC risk. In the meta-analysis consisting of 1842 cases and 2330 controls, it was found that individuals carrying the Pro allele and the ProPro genotype were at a significantly higher risk for NPC as compared with those with the Arg allele and the ArgArg genotype, respectively. Individuals with a ProPro genotype and a combined Pro genotype (ProPro+ArgPro) also showed a significantly higher risk for NPC over a wild homozygote ArgArg genotype. Additionally, the strength of each study was tested by power analysis and genotype distribution by Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium. The outcome of the study indicated that both allele frequency and genotype distribution of p53 codon72 Arg>Pro polymorphism were significantly associated with NPC risk. Stratified analyses based on ethnicity and source of samples supported the above result.

Helicobacter pylori infection and a P53 codon 72 single nucleotide polymorphism: a reason for an unexplained Asian enigma

AIM

P53, the most commonly mutated tumor suppressor gene in all types of human cancer, is involved in cell cycle arrest and control of apoptosis. Although p53 contains several polymorphic sites, the codon 72 polymorphism is by far more common. There are divergent reports but many studies suggest p53 pro/pro SNP may be associated with susceptibility to developing various cancers in different regions of the world. The present study aimed to find any correlation between H. pylori infection and progression of carcinogenesis, by studying apoptosis and the p53 gene in gastric biopsies from north Indian population.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 921 biopsies were collected and tested for prevalence of H. pylori by rapid urease test (RUT), imprint cytology and histology. Apoptosis was studied by the TUNEL method. Analysis of p53 gene polymorphism at codon 72 was accomplished by PCR using restriction enzyme BstU1.

OBSERVATION

Out of 921 samples tested 56.7% (543) were H. pylori positive by the three techniques. The mean apoptotic index (AI) in the normal group was 2.12, while gastritis had the maximum 4.24 followed by gastric ulcer 2.28, gastropathy 2.22 and duodenal ulcer 2.08. Mean AI in cases with gastric cancer (1.72) was less than the normal group. The analysis of p53 72 SNP revealed that p53 (Arg/Arg), (Pro /Arg) variant are higher (40.59% and 33.66%) as compared to p53 pro/pro variant (25.74%) in the healthy population.

CONCLUSIONS

The North Indian population harbors Arg or Pro/Arg SNP that is capable of withstanding stress conditions; this may be the reason of low incidence of gastric disease in spite of high infection with H. pylori. There was no significant association with H. pylori infection and AI. However, there is increased apoptosis in gastritis which may occur independent of H. pylori or p53 polymorphism.

Impact of TP53 codon 72 and MDM2 SNP 309 polymorphisms in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of TP53 (codon 72, rs1042522) and MDM2 promoter (SNP 309, rs2279744) have been associated with risk for various human cancers. However, studies analyzing these polymorphisms in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) are lacking. We investigated TP53 codon 72 and MDM2 SNP 309 polymorphisms in 32 patients with PDAC, 16 patients with chronic pancreatitis (CP), and 32 normal controls, using formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue. We also examined TP53 and MDM2 protein immunohistochemistry (IHC) to assess the involvement of these differences in malignant transformation and disease progression. TP53 Pro/Pro genotype was significantly more frequent in PDAC patients than in controls (65.6 vs. 15.6%, p < 0.001) and no significant difference was found between CP patients (37.5%) and controls. In MDM2 SNP 309, there were no significant differences among the three groups. Based on the Kaplan-Meier analysis, overall survival was significantly shorter in MDM2 G/G genotypes compared with other genotypes (G/T and T/T) (359 vs. 911 days, p = 0.016) whereas no significant differences in TP53 genotypes were observed (638 vs. 752 days, p = 0.471). Although TP53 IHC was frequent in PDAC patients (53.1%), TP53 and MDM2 protein expression was not correlated with polymorphisms. Our study demonstrated TP53 codon 72 polymorphism is potentially a genetic predisposing factor while MDM2 SNP 309 polymorphism might be useful in predicting survival outcome.

Molecular characteristics of endometrial cancer coexisting with peritoneal malignant mesothelioma in Li-Fraumeni-like syndrome

Background

Endometrial cancer that occurs concurrently with peritoneal malignant mesothelioma (PMM) is difficult to diagnose preoperatively.

Case presentation

A postmenopausal woman had endometrial cancer extending to the cervix, vagina and pelvic lymph nodes, and PMM in bilateral ovaries, cul-de-sac, and multiple peritoneal sites. Adjuvant therapies included chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Targeted, massively parallel DNA sequencing and molecular inversion probe microarray analysis revealed a germline TP53 mutation compatible with Li-Fraumeni-like syndrome, somatic mutations of PIK3CA in the endometrial cancer, and a somatic mutation of GNA11 and JAK3 in the PMM. Large-scale genomic amplifications and some deletions were found in the endometrial cancer. The patient has been stable for 24 months after therapy. One of her four children was also found to carry the germline TP53 mutation.

Conclusions

Molecular characterization of the coexistent tumors not only helps us make the definite diagnosis, but also provides information to select targeted therapies if needed in the future. Identification of germline TP53 mutation further urged us to monitor future development of malignancies in this patient and encourage cancer screening in her family.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12885-015-1010-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Association of p53 (-16ins-pro) haplotype with the decreased risk of differentiated thyroid carcinoma in Iranian-Azeri patients

Association of P53 polymorphisms with the increased risk of various cancers has been investigated in numerous studies. However, the results were conflicting and no polymorphism has been determined as a definite risk factor. It is likely that the study of P53 combined genotypes and haplotypes may be more useful than individual polymorphisms. Thus, in this study, we analyzed the associations of intron 3 Ins16bp and exon 4 Arg72Pro polymorphisms, as well as their combined genotypes and haplotypes with the risk of differentiated thyroid carcinoma in Iranian-Azeri patients. This case-control study was performed on 84 Iranian Azeri patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma and 150 healthy subjects. Intron 3 genotype was determined using PCR products analysis on polyacrylamide gels and AS-PCR was used for genotyping Arg72Pro polymorphism. The javastat online statistics package software and SHEsis program were applied for data analysis. There was no significant difference in genotype frequencies of both two polymorphisms between cases and controls. However, the (-16 ins/-16 ins) (Arg/Pro) genotype combination had a noticeable but not significant association with decreased risk of thyroid cancer development (OR = 0.497 95%CI: 0.209-1.168 P = 0.080) and also the frequency of (-16 ins-Pro) haplotype was significantly higher in controls rather than patients (OR = 0.543 95%CI: 0.326-0.903 P = 0.018). In our study, there was association between (-16 ins-Pro) haplotype with decreased risk of differentiated thyroid carcinoma development in Iranian-Azeri patients.

P53 gene codon 72 polymorphism in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma in the population of northern Iran

Objectives: Squamous cell carcinoma is the most common cancer of the oral cavity, and several etiologic factors are involved in its development. Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of the P53 gene codon 72 (P53c72) changes the structure of the protein and affects its activity. The prevalence of P53c72 different genotypes, which seems to vary with race and geographic location, has shown a strong correlation with many types of human cancers. The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between P53c72 polymorphism and risk of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) in the heavily populated Gilan Province in northern Iran. Design of Study: This case-control study was done on 55 paraffin-embedded samples from OSCC patients and 100 samples of non-dysplastic oral cavity lesions. The P53c72 genotypes were determined using the ARMS-PCR method. SPSS-15 software was used for statistical analysis. Results: There were no significant statistical differences found between the prevalence of different P53c72 genotypes in the OSCC group vs. the control. However, the Pro/Pro genotype in OSCC samples showed a strong correlation with age, as 70% of such patients were below 50 years old. Interestingly, a large portion (40%) of the patients with the Pro/Pro genotype had the tumor in the lip area. Conclusions: Although P53c72 polymorphism does not appear to be a predisposing factor for OSCC in the population of Northern Iran, the Pro/Pro genotype could be considered as a risk factor for OSCC in adults below 50 years old and the anatomical location of the tumor.

Key words:OSCC, P53 codon 72 polymorphism, northern Iran.

Detection of human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA prevalence and p53 codon 72 (Arg72Pro) polymorphism in prostate cancer in a Greek group of patients

Prostate cancer is the most common neoplasm found in males and the second most frequent cause of cancer-related mortality in males in Greece. Among other pathogens, the detection frequency of human papillomavirus (HPV) has been found to be significantly increased in tumor tissues among patients with sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), depending on the geographical distribution of each population studied. The present study focused on the detection of HPV and the distribution of Arg72Pro p53 polymorphism in a cohort of healthy individuals, as well as prostate cancer patients. We investigated the presence of HPV in 50 paraffin-embedded prostate cancer tissues, as well as in 30 physiological tissue samples from healthy individuals by real-time PCR. Furthermore, the same group of patients was also screened for the presence of the Arg72Pro polymorphism of the p53 gene, a p53 polymorphism related to HPV. Out of the 30 control samples, only 1 was found positive for HPV (3.33 %). On the contrary, HPV DNA was detected in 8 out of the total 50 samples (16 %) in the prostate cancer samples. The distribution of the three genotypes, Arg/Arg, Arg/Pro, and Pro/Pro, was 69.6, 21.7, and 8.7 % in the cancer patients and 75.0, 17.86, and 7.14 % in healthy controls, respectively. No statistically significant association was observed between the HPV presence and the age, stage, p53 polymorphism status at codon 72, or PSA. The increased prevalence of HPV detected in the prostate cancer tissues is in agreement with that reported in previous studies, further supporting the association of HPV infection and prostate cancer.

Genetic association between p53 codon 72 polymorphism and risk of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma

This study was designed to obtain a conclusive result about the relevance of p53 codon 72 polymorphism to the risk of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). We performed an updated meta-analysis of 3,792 subjects (1,349 cancer cases and 2,443 controls) to summarize the data available for p53 codon 72 polymorphism and SCC risk. The association was estimated by odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The meta-analysis showed no statistical significance for SCC risk associated with any of the genetic models of p53 codon 72 polymorphism. The analyses by ethnic subgroup also failed to produce significant associations. This study suggests that p53 codon 72 polymorphism does not appear to represent a significant susceptibility factor for SCC in Caucasians.

TP53 single nucleotide polymorphism rs1042522 in salivary gland neoplasms

BACKGROUND

The TP53 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs1042522 encodes arginine (Arg) or proline (Pro). The Arg variant is more effective at inducing apoptosis than the Pro.

METHODS

We assessed this SNP through direct sequencing of benign and malignant salivary neoplasms of Brazilian patients and compared the results with healthy controls' data. BAX, BCL-2, and CASPASE-3 mRNA levels were assessed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) in a set of salivary tumors, and the results were correlated with the tumor genotype.

RESULTS

We found a higher frequency of the Arg/Arg genotype in the malignant group. However, the SNP did not influence the age of onset in either benign or malignant tumors. The SNP was not associated with the transcription levels of apoptotic/antiapoptotic genes.

CONCLUSION

Malignant salivary neoplasms showed a higher frequency of the allele encoding Arg and a higher frequency of the Arg/Arg genotype. However, the different genotypes did not impact the transcription of genes involved in apoptosis.

Biomarkers in bladder cancer: translational and clinical implications

Bladder cancer is associated with high recurrence and mortality rates. These tumors show vast heterogeneity reflected by diverse morphologic manifestations and various molecular alterations associated with these disease phenotypes. Biomarkers that prospectively evaluate disease aggressiveness, progression risk, probability of recurrence and overall prognosis would improve patient care. Integration of molecular markers with conventional pathologic staging of bladder cancers may refine clinical decision making for the selection of adjuvant and salvage therapy. In the past decade, numerous bladder cancer biomarkers have been identified, including various tumor suppressor genes, oncogenes, growth factors, growth factor receptors, hormone receptors, proliferation and apoptosis markers, cell adhesion molecules, stromal factors, and oncoproteins. Recognition of two distinct pathways for urothelial carcinogenesis represents a major advance in the understanding and management of this disease. Nomograms for combining results from multiple biomarkers have been proposed to increase the accuracy of clinical predictions. The scope of this review is to summarize the major biomarker findings that may have translational and clinical implications.

Quantitative assessment of the association between TP53 Arg72Pro polymorphism and bladder cancer risk

Previous studies investigating the association between TP53 Arg72Pro polymorphism and bladder cancer risk reported controversial results. To quantify the strength of association between TP53 Arg72Pro polymorphism and bladder cancer risk, we performed this meta-analysis. We searched PubMed, Embase and Wangfang databases for studies relating the association between TP53 Arg72Pro polymorphism and bladder cancer risk. We used the pooled odds ratios (ORs) with their 95 % confidence intervals (95 % CIs) to assess the association. Finally, data were available from a total of 16 case-control studies including a total of 5, 545 subjects (2,345 cases and 3,200 controls). Meta-analysis of all 16 studies showed TP53 Arg72Pro polymorphism was not associated with bladder cancer risk (All P values were more than 0.10). Subgroup analyses by ethnicity showed that TP53 Arg72Pro polymorphism contributed to bladder cancer risk in East Asians in three genetic models (For Pro vs. Arg, Fixed-effects OR 1.18, 95 % CI 1.05-1.32; For ProPro vs. ArgArg, Fixed-effects OR 1.40, 95 % CI 1.11-1.77; For ProPro vs. ArgPro/ArgArg, Fixed-effects OR 1.32, 95 % CI 1.07-1.62). However, there was no significant association in Caucasians and the others (All P values were more than 0.05). Heterogeneity analyses suggested ethnicity was the major sources of heterogeneity. Thus, meta-analyses of available data suggest the Pro variant of TP53 Arg72Pro contributes to bladder cancer risk in East Asians. Besides, TP53 Arg72Pro polymorphism may have race-specific effects on bladder cancer risk and further studies are needed to elucidate this possible effect.

Association of p53 Arg72Pro polymorphism with bladder cancer: a meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

p53 tumor suppressor gene Arg72Pro polymorphism has been associated with bladder cancer. However, results were inconsistent. We performed this meta-analysis to estimate the association between p53 Arg72Pro polymorphism and bladder cancer.

METHODS

Electronic search of PubMed was conducted to select studies. Studies containing available genotype frequencies of Arg72Pro were chosen, and pooled odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) was used to assess the association.

RESULTS

The final meta-analysis included 14 published studies with 2176 bladder cancer cases and 2798 controls. The results suggested that the variant genotype was associated with the bladder cancer risk (additive model: OR=1.72, 95% CI: 1.036-1.325, P=0.011; dominant model: OR=1.268, 95% CI: 1.003-1.602, P=0.047) in Asian subgroup. However, the association was not significant between this polymorphism and bladder cancer risk in Caucasian (additive model: OR=0.773, 95% CI: 0.564-1.059, P=0.109; dominant model: OR=0.685, 95% CI: 0.418-1.124, P=0.134).

CONCLUSION

This meta-analysis suggests that p53 Arg72Pro polymorphism is associated with increased risk of bladder cancer in Asians. To validate the association between this polymorphism and bladder cancer, further studies with larger participants worldwide are needed.

Contribution of retinoblastoma LOH and the p53 Arg/Pro polymorphism to cervical cancer

Epidemiological studies indicate that infections by certain types of human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are causally linked to the development of cervical cancer. It is also known that HPV infections alone do not cause progression to cervical cancer, as additional genetic changes such as loss of distinct chromosomal regions, inactivation of tumor-suppressor genes and activation of oncogenes must also occur in order for malignant transformation to take place. In the present study, 78 patients diagnosed with cervical cancer and 36 cervical cancer-free cases (control) were analyzed for high-risk HPV genotypes (16 and 18) by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) of the retinoblastoma gene (Rb) at two polymorphic intronic sites (intron 1 and 17) and the p53 polymorphism in codon 72 were detected by RFLP and allele-specific PCR, respectively. HPV 16 and 18 were found at frequencies of 93.6 and 8.3% in the cervical cancer and control samples, respectively. LOH was detected in 63% of patients in intron 1 and/or intron 17. p53 allele frequency for Arg/Arg was 43.6% (34/78), for Arg/Pro 37.2% (29/78) and for Pro/Pro 19.2% (15/78). The relative risk (RR) of LOH and Arg/Arg alone was 1.7 and 1.1, respectively, while the combined RR for Rb LOH and p53 Arg/Arg was 2.5. The present study showed a significant association of the chromosomal allelic loss of Rb in Sudanese cervical cancer patients, while no such association was observed with other parameters, such as clinical stage and degree of differentiation; hence, it cannot be a determinant of tumor behavior in cervical carcinoma. Although the p53 arginine allele is itself an important risk factor for cervical cancer, the combined risk with LOH of Rb, which appears to be greater, might indicate a possible epistatic effect of the two genes/polymorphisms.

Association of p53 codon 248 (exon7) with urinary bladder cancer risk in the North Indian population

p53 is the most frequently mutated gene in all forms of human cancer. It responds to diverse stresses including UVR-induced DNA damage and regulates many downstream genes to initiate cell-cycle arrest, DNA repair or apoptosis. p53 gene variants at codon 11, Pro47Ser and codon 248 (exon 7) were evaluated for bladder cancer (BC) risk in North Indians. In the present study, the above encoding regions in p53 genes were analyzed in a hospital based study in 200 BC and 200 healthy controls age and gender matched and of similar ethnicity. The genotyping was assessed by the polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism technique and statistically evaluated using SPSS software ver. 15.0. A significant association was found with p53 codon 248 polymorphism and BC risk whereas p53 codon 11 and p53 Pro47Ser polymorphism showed no association with BC risk. The individuals carrying the heterozygous genotype (Arg/Trp-Arg/Gln) in the p53 codon 248 polymorphism showed high BC risk (p < 0.001). Combinations with heterozygous and variant genotypes also showed a high risk for BC (p < 0.001). The minor allele (Trp/Gln) carriers of the p53 codon 248 demonstrated a 1.7-fold risk for BC. Furthermore, haplotype analysis revealed that the Glu-Pro-Trp/Gln haplotype is associated with a 1.9-fold risk for BC. A protective role was observed with tumor stage/grade of BC patients with p53 codon 248 (p = 0.003; OR = 0.32). Thus, it is evident from our study that of all the 3 single nucleotide polymorphisms evaluated, only p53 codon 248 (exon7) gene polymorphism has an implication for risk in BC in the North Indian population.

Impact of codon 72 Arg > Pro single nucleotide polymorphism in TP53 gene in the risk of kangri cancer: a case control study in Kashmir

Kangri cancer found only in Kashmir (north India) is a unique thermally induced squamous cell carcinoma of the skin that develops because of chronic and persistent irritation due to the use of a kangri (a brazier) by the Kashmiri people to combat the chilling cold temperature during winter. Being unique to this region, the molecular etiology of the invasive kangri cancer is not known fully. The TP53 gene, codon 72 polymorphism (Arg72Pro), has been found to be associated with cancer susceptibility but has not been investigated in kangri cancer risk. A case control study was conducted to find the genotype distribution of TP53 Arg72Pro SNP and to elucidate the possible role of this SNP as risk factor in kangri cancer development. Using the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism approach, we tested the genotype distribution of 106 kangri cancer patients in comparison with 200 cancer-free controls from the same geographical region. A significant difference was observed between the control and kangri cancer patients with odds ratio = 2.02 and 95% confidence interval = 1.2-3.3 (p = 0.01). Interestingly, the proline form was abundantly observed in advanced-grade tumors (p < 0.05). We also found a significant association of the variant allele (GC + CC) with male subjects and patients >45 years of age (p < 0.05). Thus, it is evident from our study that Arg72Pro SNP is implicated in kangri cancer and that the rare, proline-related allele is connected with higher susceptibility to kangri cancer.

p53 codon 72 polymorphism as a progression index for bladder cancer

The aim of this study was to calculate the positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) to determine whether p53 codon 72 can be used as a bladder cancer management index. Ninety-six patients diagnosed with bladed cancer and two control groups of 427 randomly sampled community participants and 142 non-cancerous individuals without a prior history of cancer were enrolled. After preliminary analysis, the convergent validity resulted in 96 patients from this study and 129 patients from our previous study. Results showed that these two groups were of the same population, and could be merged into one case group. Logistic regression showed that the Pro/Pro genotype was not statistically significantly associated with bladder cancer incidence using each sample set after adjustment by age and gender. Moreover, the Pro/Pro genotype was not associated with high-grade tumors (P=0.078), but was highly correlated to muscle-invasive tumors (P=0.002). Pro/Pro genotype carriers were estimated to have a 3.36-fold higher risk to develop invasive tumors compared to non-carriers. The NPV of the Pro/Pro genotype for invasive tumors was 88.00%, and the PPV was 31.91%. By Cox regression analysis, high-grade tumors were associated with recurrence (P=0.020, OR=1.83), whereas invasive tumors were associated with cancer-related death (P<0.001, OR=2.87). p53 codon 72 polymorphism is associated with bladder cancer progression rather than incidence and prognosis. The Pro/Pro genotype in p53 codon 72 polymorphism shows a high NPV for bladder cancer progression, thus, it can be used clinically as a progression index in bladder cancer management.

Polymorphisms of TP53 are markers of bladder cancer vulnerability and prognosis

OBJECTIVES

We have reported previously that the TP53 codon72 polymorphism (rs1042522) is associated with the incidence and invasiveness of bladder cancer in a Han Chinese population. Using an enlarged sample, we investigated the role of rs1042522 and of tagSNPs that were predicted to be in linkage disequilibrium with codon72 in relation to the incidence, invasiveness, and prognosis of bladder cancer.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

A sample of 201 patients and 311 controls without cancer were genotyped for 5 tagSNPs using tetra-primer ARMS and/or an allele-specific PCR technique.

RESULTS

The genotyped data were analyzed using Haploview 4.2, and a 10,000-permutation test showed that the rs9895829G allele (P = 0.003) and the rs1788227C allele (P = 0.027) were both associated with the incidence of bladder cancer. With respect to haplotype associations, after the data were adjusted for age, the haplotypes GTT (P = 0.001) and GGTC (P < 0.001) were correlated with a low incidence of bladder cancer. In contrast, none of the TP53 haplotypes were associated significantly with high tumor grade or muscle invasiveness. On the basis of Cox regression analysis, haplotype CGCC and invasiveness were associated with cancer-related death. Structural equation modeling showed that haplotypes GGCC and CGCC played opposing roles with respect to bladder cancer-related death; haplotype GGCC was a protective factor, whereas haplotype CGCC was a risk factor.

CONCLUSIONS

The TP53 codon72 polymorphism appears to play a crucial role in determining the association between TP53 haplotype and the incidence and prognosis of bladder cancer. Further functional assays to confirm whether these TP53 haplotypic variants interact with the proteins N-Myc and NDRG is necessary.

p53 codon 72 polymorphism and the risk of esophageal cancer: a Korean case-control study

The aim of this study was to assess whether p53 codon 72 polymorphism is associated with an increased risk of esophageal cancer (EC) in South Korea. We conducted a case-control study including 340 patients with EC, and 1700 controls. P53 codon 72 polymorphism was determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction. The frequencies of p53 codon 72 polymorphisms (Arg/Arg, Arg/Pro, and Pro/Pro) in EC were 39.4%, 45.6%, and 15.0%, respectively; frequencies in the controls were 43.2%, 45.6%, and 11.2%, respectively. Compared with the Arg/Arg genotype, the OR of the Arg/Pro genotype was 1.09 (95% CI = 0.85-1.41) and that of the Pro/Pro genotype was 1.47 (95% CI = 1.02-2.11) for EC overall. When adjusted by age, gender, and smoking status, the OR of the Arg/Pro genotype was 1.24 (95% CI = 0.92-1.67) and that of the Pro/Pro genotype was 1.77 (95% CI = 1.15-2.74) for EC overall. In never-smokers and ever-smokers, the OR of the Arg/Pro genotype was 0.59 (95% CI = 0.37-0.95) and 1.39 (95% CI = 1.00-1.91), respectively, and there was a significant difference in the homogeneity test (P= 0.011). We observed that the p53 codon 72 polymorphism was associated with an increased risk of EC in this Korean case-control study, and smoking status modified the association between the p53 codon 72 polymorphism and the risk of EC.

Combined effects of MDM2 SNP309 and TP53 R72P polymorphisms, and soy isoflavones on breast cancer risk among Chinese women in Singapore

The MDM2 oncoprotein regulates the p53 pathway and, while functional polymorphisms of the MDM2 and p53 genes have been investigated for association with breast cancer risk, results are largely null or non-conclusive. We have earlier reported that the increased intake of soy isoflavones reduces risk of postmenopausal breast cancer, and experimental studies suggest that dietary isoflavones can down-regulate the expression of the MDM2 oncoprotein. In this study, we investigated the association between the MDM2 SNP309 and TP53 R72P polymorphisms and breast cancer risk using a case-control study of 403 cases and 662 controls nested among 35,303 women in The Singapore Chinese Health Study, a population-based, prospective cohort of middle-aged and elderly men and women who have been continuously followed since 1993. The G allele of the TP53 R72P polymorphism and T allele of the MDM2 SNP309 polymorphism were putative high-risk alleles and exhibited a combined gene-dose-dependent joint effect on breast cancer risk that was more clearly observed in postmenopausal women. Among postmenopausal women, the simultaneous presence of G allele in TP53 and T allele in MDM2 polymorphisms was associated with an odds ratio (OR) of 2.42 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.06-5.50]. Furthermore, the protective effect of dietary soy isoflavones on postmenopausal breast cancer was mainly confined to women homozygous for the high activity MDM2 allele (GG genotype). In this genetic subgroup, women consuming levels of soy isoflavones above the median level exhibited risk that was half of those with below median intake (OR 0.52; 95% CI 0.28-0.99). Our findings support experimental data implicating combined effects of MDM2 protein and the p53-mediated pathway in breast carcinogenesis, and suggest that soy isoflavones may exert protective effect via down-regulation of the MDM2 protein.

p53 codon 72 polymorphism and liver cancer susceptibility: A meta-analysis of epidemiologic studies

AIM: To evaluate the association between p53 codon 72 polymorphism and liver cancer risk by means of meta-analysis.

METHODS: Two investigators independently searched the Medline, Embase and Chinese Biomedicine databases. Summary odds ratios and 95% CI for p53 codon 72 polymorphism and liver cancer were calculated in fixed-effects model (Mantel-Haenszel method) and random-effects model (DerSimonian and Laird method) when appropriate.

RESULTS: This meta-analysis included 1115 liver cancer cases and 1778 controls. The combined results based on all studies showed that there was a statistically significant link between Pro/Pro genotype and liver cancer, but not between Arg/Arg or Pro/Arg genotype and liver cancer. When stratifying for race, similar results were obtained, i.e. patients with liver cancer had a significantly higher frequency of Pro/Pro genotype than non-cancer patients among Asians. After stratifying the various studies by control source, gender, family history of liver cancer and chronic hepatitis virus infection, we found that (1) patients among hospital-based studies had a significantly higher frequency of Pro/Pro and a significantly lower frequency of Arg/Arg genotype than individuals without cancer; (2) female patients with liver cancer had a significantly lower frequency of Arg/Arg and a higher frequency of Pro/Arg+Pro/Pro genotypes than female individuals without cancer; (3) subgroup analyses for family history of liver cancer did not reveal any significant association between p53 codon 72 polymorphism and liver cancer development; and (4) patients with negative hepatitis virus infection had a significantly higher frequency of Pro/Pro and a significantly lower frequency of Arg/Arg genotype than individuals without cancer.

CONCLUSION: This meta-analysis suggests that the p53 codon 72 polymorphism may be associated with liver cancer among Asians.

p53 codon 72 polymorphism was associated with vulnerability, progression, but not prognosis of bladder cancer in a Taiwanese population: an implication of structural equation modeling to manage the risks of bladder cancer

INTRODUCTION

p53 codon 72 polymorphism has been reported to be associated with bladder cancer incidence, progression and prognosis, but the association is still under debate. A tentative model was constructed to evaluate the association between p53 codon 72 polymorphism and bladder cancer.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

In this study, a total of 554 participants were enrolled. The genotyping was carried out using PCR-RFLP and DNA direct sequencing.

RESULTS

The genotype distribution of p53 codon 72 polymorphism was significantly different between bladder cancer patients and controls (p = 0.039). In logistic regression, diagnostic age and genotype Pro/Pro were the risk factors for developing an invasive tumor. A 4.526-fold risk was estimated for the patients with Pro/Pro genotype as opposed to non-Pro/Pro genotype to develop invasive tumors. However, the extent of p53 codon 72 polymorphism did not predict bladder cancer prognosis.

CONCLUSIONS

A conceptual mode was constructed; in addition, the moderating and mediating analysis was also carried out in a structural equation model to resolve possible confounding effects. Taken together, p53 codon 72 polymorphism may be associated with bladder cancer incidence and progression, but not prognosis. Further study is needed to evaluate the usefulness of the constructed model in risk assessment.

Tumour suppressor gene TP53 mutations in atypical vascular lesions of breast skin following radiotherapy

AIMS

Atypical vascular lesions (AVL) occurring at the site of radiotherapy represent an uncommon but well-documented complication in the setting of breast-conserving therapy for breast carcinoma. Although the biological behaviour of AVL has been regarded as benign, it has been suggested that AVL may represent a precursor of angiosarcoma. A better understanding of the biology of AVL is essential in order to assess appropriate patient management. The aim of the present study was to investigate alterations of tumour suppressor gene TP53 in a series of radiation-induced AVL and angiosarcomas (AS).

METHODS AND RESULTS

Direct sequencing analysis of the TP53 gene showed the presence of at least one variation in 10 of 12 (83.3%) AVL and in seven of eight (87.5%) AS. The most common alteration in both categories was the P72R polymorphism in exon 4. One angiosarcoma sample carried a pathogenetically relevant disruptive mutation c.592delG, a frameshift deletion in exon 6, causing a premature stop codon.

CONCLUSIONS

The presence of TP53 alterations suggests that its mutational inactivation may be implicated in the pathogenesis of radiation-associated vascular proliferations. The common mutational pathway suggested by our data supports the hypothesis that AVL and AS are biologically related entities, most probably representing the extremes of a morphological continuum.

p53 codon 72 polymorphism and the risk of lung cancer in a Korean population

The aim of this study was to assess whether p53 codon 72 polymorphism is associated with an increased risk of lung cancer (LC) in a South Korean population. We conducted a population-based, large-scale, case-control study including 3939 patients with LC and 1700 controls. P53 codon 72 polymorphism was determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The frequencies of p53 codon 72 polymorphisms (Arg/Arg, Arg/Pro, and Pro/Pro) in LC were 37.0%, 46.2%, and 16.7%, respectively; frequencies in the controls were 43.2%, 45.6%, and 11.2%, respectively (p<0.01). The Arg/Pro and Pro/Pro genotype were significantly associated with increased risk of LC (odds ratio (OR)=1.22, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.06-1.14 and OR=1.83, 95% CI=1.48-2.26, respectively) compared with the Arg/Arg genotype. Risk was compared in different subgroups. The OR of Pro/Pro genotype was significantly higher in small cell lung cancer (SCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SQC) than in adenocarcinoma (ADC). Higher OR of Pro/Pro genotype was also seen among males. However, relationships between gender, age, smoking, and genotypes were not found. P53 codon 72 polymorphism was associated with an increased risk of LC in this Korean population; the association was especially noteworthy in SQC, SCC, and males.

Association of p53 codon 72 genetic polymorphism with the risk of ulcerative colitis in northern Iran

PURPOSE

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory condition of the large bowel of unknown etiology, characterized by the presence of bloody diarrhea and mucus associated with a negative stool culture for bacteria, ova, or parasites. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of p53 codon 72 genetic polymorphism with the risk of UC in northern Iran.

METHODS

We evaluated the association of the p53 codon 72 genetic polymorphism with UC in northern Iran. The genotype of 190 patients with UC (115 men, 75 women; mean age, 32 ± 8.6 years) and 220 healthy control subjects (123 men, 97 women; mean age, 33 ± 2.5 years) were compared. Genomic DNA was extracted from colonic bioptic tissues of patients and blood samples of healthy individuals. Genotypes and allele frequencies were determined in patients and controls using allele-specific PCR (AS-PCR).

RESULTS

There were significant differences in the distribution of the polymorphism between the control subjects and the UC patients (P < 0.0001). Significantly increased frequencies of the Pro allele and the Pro/Pro genotype were observed in patients with UC compared with controls (Pro allele: P < 0.0001; odds ratio, 7.87; 95% confidence interval, 4.03-15.35; Pro/Pro: P < 0.0001; odds ratio, 35.21; 95% confidence interval, 12.56-98.73).

CONCLUSION

The p53 codon 72 genetic polymorphism is associated with UC in northern Iran.

p53 Codon 72 polymorphism and gastric cancer risk in a Chinese Han population

BACKGROUND

studies investigating the association between p53 codon 72 polymorphism and gastric cancer risk report conflicting results. Our recent meta-analysis suggests that the p53 codon 72 polymorphism may be associated with gastric cancer among Asians.

AIM

the objective of this study was to investigate the association between p53 codon 72 polymorphism and gastric cancer risk in Chinese Han patients.

METHODS

we extracted the peripheral blood samples from 150 patients with gastric cancer and 150 control subjects. Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis was performed to detect p53 codon 72 polymorphism in these patients.

RESULTS

patients with gastric cancer had a significantly lower frequency of Arg/Arg (odds ratio [OR] = 0.48, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] = 0.28, 0.80; p = 0.005) than control subjects. Patients with cardia gastric cancer had a significantly higher frequency of Pro/Pro (OR = 2.26, 95% CI = 1.12, 4.55; p = 0.02) than those with noncardia gastric cancer. Patients with advanced gastric cancer had a significantly higher frequency of Arg/Arg (OR = 2.66, 95% CI = 1.06, 6.65; p = 0.03) than those with early gastric cancer. When stratified by the Lauren's classification, histological differentiation of gastric cancer, no statistically significant result was observed.

CONCLUSION

this study suggests that the p53 codon 72 polymorphism may be associated with gastric cancer in Chinese Han patients, and that difference in genotype distribution may be associated with the location and stage of gastric cancer.

Meta-analysis of epidemiological studies of association of P53 codon 72 polymorphism with bladder cancer

Although there have been many studies investigating a possible association between p53 codon 72 polymorphism and risk of bladder cancer, the results have been inconsistent. We conducted a meta-analysis of six epidemiological studies, which included 597 bladder cancer cases and 731 controls. Patients with bladder cancer had a significantly lower frequency of Pro/Arg [odds ratio (OR) = 0.80, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.64-0.99], when compared to controls. Stratifying for race, we found that among Caucasians, patients with bladder cancer had a significantly higher frequency of Arg/Arg (OR = 1.64, 95%CI = 1.18-2.28) and a lower frequency of Pro/Arg (OR = 0.62, 95%CI = 0.44-0.86), compared to controls. Stratifying various studies by the stage of bladder cancer, we found that invasive bladder cancers had a significantly lower frequency of Arg/Arg (OR = 0.58, 95%CI = 0.36-0.93) and a higher frequency of Pro/Arg (OR = 0.62, 95%CI = 0.44-0.86) than did non-invasive bladder cancers. No significant association was found between this genotype and human papilloma virus. Based on our meta-analysis, we suggest that p53 codon 72 polymorphism is associated with bladder cancer and that genotypic distribution of this polymorphism varies with the stage of bladder cancer.

DeltaN133p53 expression levels in relation to haplotypes of the TP53 internal promoter region

The transcription of the DeltaN133p53 isoform of the TP53 gene is controlled by an internal promoter region (IPR) containing eight polymorphisms in 11 common haplotypes, following a resequencing of 47 Caucasians. We assayed the functional effects of the commonest six haplotypes on the promoter activity with a luciferase reporter system, in HeLa and 293T cells. These studies showed that different IPR haplotypes are associated with differences in the promoter activity resulting in marked variation in the baseline expression of DeltaN133p53. In vivo quantitative-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on human tissues confirmed that the baseline levels of DeltaN133p53 showed haplotype specific differences that paralleled those seen in vitro. When cell lines were treated with camptothecin, the fold-increase in DeltaN133p53 levels was dose-dependent but haplotype-independent (i.e., similar for all the haplotypes). Finally, we used an electrophoretic mobility shift assay to analyze the rs1794287 polymorphism and found changes in the pattern of protein binding. This partially confirmed our in silico analysis showing that the polymorphism rs1794287 can affect the function of the internal promoter by changing its affinity for several transcription factors. Thus, we showed that the expression of DeltaN133p53 is under genetic control, and suggested the presence of interindividual differences underlying this mechanism.

Vaccination against human papilloma virus (HPV): epidemiological evidence of HPV in non-genital cancers

Recently, the vaccine against human papillomavirus (HPV) was introduced in the national vaccination programmes of several countries worldwide. The established association between HPV and the progression of cervical neoplasia provides evidence of the expected protection of the vaccine against cervical cancer. During the last two decades several studies have also examined the possible involvement of HPV in non-genital cancers and have proposed the presence of HPV in oesophageal, laryngeal, oropharyngeal, lung, urothelial, breast and colon cancers. The possible involvement of HPV in these types of cancer would necessitate the introduction of the vaccine in both boys and girls. However, the role of HPV in the pathogenesis of these types of cancer has yet to be proven. Moreover, the controversial evidence of the possible impact of the vaccination against HPV in the prevention of non-genital cancers needs to be further evaluated. In this review, we present an overview of the existing epidemiological evidence regarding the detection of HPV in non-genital cancers.

Genotype and haplotype analysis of TP53 gene and the risk of pancreatic cancer: an association study in the Czech Republic

Pancreatic carcinoma is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the Czech Republic, with only a minimum of patients surviving 5 years. The aetiology and molecular pathogenesis are still weakly understood. TP53 has a fundamental role in cell cycle and apoptosis and is frequently mutated in solid tumours, including pancreatic cancer. Based on the assumption that genetic variation may affect susceptibility to cancer development, the role of TP53 polymorphisms in modulating the risk of pancreatic cancer may be of major importance. We investigated four selected polymorphisms in TP53 (rs17878362:A(1)>A(2), rs1042522:G>C, rs12947788:C>T and rs17884306:G>A) in association with pancreatic cancer risk in a case-control study, including 240 cases and controls (for a total of 1827 individuals) from the Czech Republic. Carriers of the variant C allele of rs1042522 polymorphism were at an increased risk of pancreatic cancer [odds ratio (OR) 1.73; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.26-2.39; P = 0.001]. Haplotype analysis showed that in comparison with the most common haplotype (A(1)GCG), the A(2)CCG haplotype was associated with an increased risk (OR 1.39; 95% CI 1.02-1.88; P = 0.034) and the A(1)CCG with a reduced risk (OR 0.30; 95% CI 0.12-0.76; P = 0.011) for this cancer. These results reflect previous findings of a recent association study, where haplotypes constructed on the same TP53 variants were associated with colorectal cancer risk [Polakova et al. (2009) Genotype and haplotype analysis of cell cycle genes in sporadic colorectal cancer in the Czech Republic. Hum. Mutat., 30, 661-668.]. Genetic variation in TP53 may contribute, alone or in concert with other risk factors, to modify the inherited susceptibility to pancreatic cancer, as well as to other gastrointestinal cancers.

TP53 genetic polymorphisms and environmental risk factors associated with cervical carcinogenesis in a cohort of Brazilian women with cervical lesions

The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of TP53 polymorphism at codon 72 and its association with environmental risk factors in a sample of women in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 304 women with histological diagnoses of negative, precancerous, and cancerous lesions between October 2004 and May 2006. Antecedents of exposure to environmental risk factors were ascertained through an interview-administered questionnaire, and whenever indicated, colposcopy tests and lesion excisions were performed. Genomic DNA was extracted from leukocytes of peripheral blood subjects, and genotyping of TP53 polymorphism was conducted using polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment-length polymorphism methods. Crude and adjusted odds ratios (OR) and their 95% confidence intervals (CI) were ascertained for selected risk factors and allelic groups among control, low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL), and high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL)/cancer strata, using logistic regression analysis. The TP53 polymorphism distribution in this population was 64 (21.1%) Arg/Arg, 55 (18.1%) Pro/Pro, and 185 (60.9%) Arg/Pro. Women who were heterozygous (Arg/Pro) showed an independent risk for cervical HSIL/cancer (adjusted OR: 1.92, 95%CI: 1.03-1.59, controlled for age, ethnicity, and age at menarche) compared to Pro/Pro genotypic women. Age at sexual onset up to 16 yr old (adjusted OR: 1.97, 95%CI: 1.18-3.3), lifelong 3-4 sexual partners (adjusted OR: 2.38, 95%CI: 1.32-4.28), current smoking (adjusted OR: 2.32, 95%CI: 1.31-4.13), and smoking more than 10 yr (adjusted OR: 2.52, 95%CI: 1.042-6.09) were found to be independent risk factors for cervical HSIL/cancer. Women possessing the Arg/Pro genotype presented a higher risk for HSIL/cancer development compared to Pro/Pro genotypic women in the sample studied after control for selected confounders. Early sexual onset, multiple sexual partners, and current and past tobacco smoking were independent risk factors for HSIL/cancer development.

Lack of correlation between p53 codon 72 polymorphism and anal cancer risk

AIM: To investigate the potential role of p53 codon 72 polymorphism as a risk factor for development of anal cancer.

METHODS: Thirty-two patients with invasive anal carcinoma and 103 healthy blood donors were included in the study. p53 codon 72 polymorphism was analyzed in blood samples through polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism and DNA sequencing.

RESULTS: The relative frequency of each allele was 0.60 for Arg and 0.40 for Pro in patients with anal cancer, and 0.61 for Arg and 0.39 for Pro in normal controls. No significant differences in distribution of the codon 72 genotypes between patients and controls were found.

CONCLUSION: These results do not support a role for the p53 codon 72 polymorphism in anal carcinogenesis.

Polymorphisms ofp53Arg72Pro,p73G4C14-to-A4T14 at Exon 2 andp21Ser31Arg and the risk of non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma in Japanese

We hypothesized that the polymorphisms in the two p53 family genes (p53 Arg72Pro and p73 G4C14-to-A4T14 at exon 2 (G4A)) and p21 Ser31Arg polymorphism might modulate the risk of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and conducted a hospital-based prevalent case control study at Aichi Cancer Center Hospital to clarify the association. Risk estimation for each genotype by the unconditional logistic model demonstrated the possible association between the p53 Pro72 allele and the risk of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in Japanese population (OR = 1.59; 95% CI, 0.99-2.57, P = 0.057), although no other significant association was observed. The analyses of statistical interactions between these three polymorphisms (p73 G4A, p53 Arg72Pro and p21 Ser31Arg polymorphisms) revealed the marginally significant OR for interaction between p53 Arg72Pro and p73 G4A polymorphisms (OR = 2.54; 95% CI, 0.97 6.62, P = 0.057). When those without p53 Pro72 and p73 A4T14 alleles were defined as a reference, those with p53 Pro72 and p73 A4T14 alleles demonstrated a significantly higher OR (2.08; 95% CI, 1.11-3.90, P = 0.023). Further examination with a sufficiently larger population and other ethnicities are required to confirm our findings.