Objective: To investigate the mutation and expression of p53 tumor suppressor gene in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), cervical carcinoma and lung cancer.
Methods: 24 NPCs, 9 cervical carcinomas and 10 lung cancers were examined by immunohistochemical and PCR-SSCP techniques.
Results: 23/24 (90.1%) NPCs, 6/9 (66.7%) cervical carcinomas and 9/10 (90.0%) lung cancers showed p53 overexpression. No NPC or cervical carcinoma had p53 mutations in exons 5-8 of the gene, whereas mutations were found in 5 lung cancers, one in exon 8 and four in exon 5. All five cases showed p53 overexpression.
Conclusions: Overexpression of p53 exists in NPC, cervical carcinoma and lung cancer. It is related to gene mutation in lung cancer, but not in NPC or cervical carcinoma. The DNA tumor viruses may be involved in the overexpression of p53 in NPC and cervical carcinoma.