p53 Codon 72 arginine/proline polymorphism and cancer in Sudan

Abstract

The aim of this report is to determine frequencies and associations of p53 codon 72 arg/pro polymorphism with different types of cancer in Sudan. p53 codon72 arg/pro polymorphism distribution and allele frequencies in 264 samples of different types of cancers were investigated using PCR. The results were compared to 235 normal controls. The results indicated significant differences in frequency and genotype association between different types of cancers. Breast carcinoma patients most prominently showed excess of homozygous arg genotype as compared to controls with an Odd ratio (OR) of 19.44, 95 %CI: 6.6–78.3, P\0.0001. Less prominently cervical cancer showed genotype effect of 2.4 OR, 95 %CI: 1.12–5.33, P = 0.015, while esophageal cancer had an OR of 0.57, 95 %CI: 0.23–1.42, P = 0.1. In Burkitt’s lymphoma, however, in contrast the homozygous arg accounted for only 6.9 %, (OR 0.18, 95 %CI: 0.02–0.89, P = 0.018). We concluded that p53 arg/pro polymorphism has different pattern of frequency in different types of cancer among Sudanese patients, indicating perhaps different etiology and biology of these tumours.found in more than 50 % of human cancers. However, germ line mutations in p53 are rare and only few polymorphisms have been described [2]. One of the most common variants believed to be associated with cancer development is the codon 72 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), which results in the substitution of proline for arginine [3]. The association of this polymorphism has long been a subject of reports and controversies with regards to its functions and association with different cancers, including Lung, breast, prostate, esophageal, nasopharyngeal, Burkitt’s lymphoma, and cervical cancer (reviewed by Whibley [4]). p53 arg/pro polymorphism allele frequency among normal Sudanese populations was reported previously [5], however, the frequency of the SNP and its association with different cancers has never been investigated. The aim of this report is to determine frequencies and associations of p53 codon 72 arg/pro polymorphism with some common types of cancers in Sudan, breast and cervical cancer in women, Burkitt’s Lymphoma in children, and nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and Esophageal cancer among males.