The 249Ser mutation of TP53 has high prevalence and is correlated with larger and more poorly differentiated hepatocellular carcinomas in Brazilian patients

The TP53 mutation ser-249 (249Ser) provides molecular evidence for aflatoxin-related carcinogenesis in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This etiology is common in some African and Asian regions but unusual in Western countries.

It has been claimed that HBV acts synergistically with aflatoxin in the genesis of the 249Ser mutation. The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency of this mutation in HCC among patients in Brazil.

Methods: We studied 74 formalin-fixed paraffin blocks of HCC samples from patients who had undergone surgical resection in Brazil.

The 249Ser mutation was analyzed by RFLP and DNA sequencing. The presence of HBV DNA was determined by Real-Time PCR.

Results: The 249Ser mutation was found in 21/74 samples (28%) while HBV DNA was detected in 13/74 (16%).

Poorly-differentiated HCC was more likely to have the mutation (OR = 2.415, 95% CI = 1.001 - 5.824, p=0.05). The mean size of 249Ser HCC tumors was 9.4 cm as compared to 5.5cm for wild type HCC (p=0.012).

The presence of HBV DNA was not related to the 249Ser mutation.

Conclusions: Our results indicate that the 249Ser mutation is an important factor in the genesis of HCC in Brazil and it is associated with large and poorly differentiated tumors.

Author: Jeronimo NogueiraSuzane Ono-NitaMarcelo NitaMarcelo SouzaEliane CarmoEvandro MelloCristovan ScapulatempoDenise Paranagua-VezozzoFlair CarrilhoVenancio Alves
Credits/Source: BMC Cancer 2009, 9:204

Published on: 2009-06-26

Copyright by the authors listed above - made available via BioMedCentral (Open Access). Please make sure to read our disclaimer prior to contacting 7thSpace Interactive. To contact our editors, visit our online helpdesk. If you wish submit your own press release, click here.

Comments Page 0 of 0

There are currently 0 comments to display.

+ Add New Comment

Custom Search