[Mutation of P53 gene in a highly metastatic human lung cancer cell line].

PG cell line, derived from a lung giant cell carcinoma, has the characteristics of rapid growth and high tumorigenicity. When transplanted to nude mice, spontanious metastasis to lung and lymphnode is high in frequency and stable. To understand the molecular basis of PG's biological behaviors, expression of tumor suppressor gene p53 was studied. It was found that expression of p53 protein was increased as demonstrated by immunohistochemical stainning. A change in polymorphsim in exon 7 of p53 gene was detected by nonisotopic PCR-SSCP, suggesting a change in base composition. Thermal cycling sequencing of both strands of exon 7 demonstrated a transversion of CGG to CTT at codon 248. Similar study with the same methods on Ki-ras oncogene was done, but no mutation was found. The relationship between p53 gene mutation and the metastatic potential of PG cells needs further exploration.