Brief Articles
Copyright ©2009 The WJG Press and Baishideng. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Sep 28, 2009; 15(36): 4566-4570
Published online Sep 28, 2009. doi: 10.3748/wjg.15.4566
Lack of correlation between p53 codon 72 polymorphism and anal cancer risk
Simone S Contu, Grasiela Agnes, Andrea P Damin, Paulo C Contu, Mário A Rosito, Claudio O Alexandre, Daniel C Damin
Simone S Contu, Paulo C Contu, Mário A Rosito, Daniel C Damin, Department of Surgery, Division of Coloproctology, Clinicas Hospital of Porto Alegre and Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, 90.035-930 Porto Alegre, Brazil
Grasiela Agnes, Andrea P Damin, Claudio O Alexandre, Daniel C Damin, Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Department of Pathology, Federal University of Health Science of Porto Alegre, 90.035-930 Porto Alegre, Brazil
Author contributions: Contu SS supervised the collection of research material and patient data and prepared the manuscript; Agnes G performed laboratory analysis of the biological material; Damin AP designed the research and performed laboratory analysis; Contu PC collected the biological material and wrote the manuscript; Rosito MA recruited patients and prepared clinical data; Alexandre CO coordinated the laboratory activities and analyzed the laboratory results; Damin DC designed the research, coordinated collection of clinical data and biological material and wrote the manuscript.
Supported by The National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq), No. 142678/2007-4, Brazilian Government
Correspondence to: Dr. Daniel C Damin, Division of Coloproctology, Clinicas Hospital of Porto Alegre and Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, 90.035-930 Porto Alegre, Brazil. damin@terra.com.br
Telephone: +55-51-33598232 Fax: +55-51-33598001
Received: June 5, 2009
Revised: August 27, 2009
Accepted: September 3, 2009
Published online: September 28, 2009
Abstract

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.

Keywords: Anus neoplasms; Arginine; Genetic polymorphism; Polymerase chain reaction; Proline; Tumor suppressor protein p53