p53 Gene Mutations in Transitional Cell Carcinoma of the Renal Pelvis

Uhm, Sung Yong; Kong, Gu; Park, Hae Young

Abstract

Inactivation or loss of suppressor genes on a specific chromosome plays an important role in the development and progression of cancer. Recent studies have shown that p53 gene acts as a tumor suppressor gene and that its mutation appears to be related to the aggressiveness of transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder. To investigate the significance of p53 gene mutations in transitional cell carcinoma of the renal pelvis (renal pelvis tumor), 28 tumors with various stages and grades were examined for p53 gene mutations in exon regions 5 to 8 using polymerase chain reaction single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis. Seven (25%) of 28 pelvis tumors were found to have p53 gene mutations. Three of 12 superficial tumors including pTis, pTa, and pT1 were found to have p53 gene mutations. And only four of 16 invasive tumors with pT2, pT3, and pT4 were found to have p53 mutations. In the respect of tumor grade, p53 gene mutation was found in four of the 14 tumors with grade I and II, while three of 14 tumors with grade III, and IV were found to have p53 gene mutations. These observations suggest that, in contrast to bladder cancer, the incidence of p53 gene mutations does not related to the tumor stages and grades in transitional cell carcinoma of the renal pelvis. These results further indicate that p53 gene mutation may not represent a genetic marker of malignant potentials in transitional cell carcinoma of the renal pelvis.