p53 gene mutations in esophageal cancer detected by polymerase chain reaction single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis.

Mutations of the p53 gene play an important role in the development of common human malignancies. We investigated mutations of this gene in 26 surgical specimens of esophageal cancer using the polymerase chain reaction single-strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) analysis. The results were correlated with histological findings, DNA ploidy and the short-term relapse of the disease. PCR-SSCP analysis detected mutations of the p53 gene in 10 tumors (38%), eight in exons 5-6 and two in exons 7-8. A higher incidence of lymph node metastasis, poorly differentiated tumor, DNA aneuploidy and short-term relapse of the disease was observed in cases with p53 gene mutations, although the findings were not statistically significant.