The p53 codon 72 genotypes in HPV infection and cervical disease

Objetive: An experimental study have indicated that individuals homozygous for the Arg-encoding allele of p53 gene may have an increased susceptibility to HPV-related cervical cancer. Many epidemiological studies have failed in the attempt to repeat this results. The aim of the present work was to investigate whether the p53 arginine allele confers a risk factor for cervical carcinogenesis. Study design: Using PCR based technology, DNAs from 90 normal cervical samples and 205 abnormal cervical tissue scrapes were analyzed for the type of HPV present and p53 codon 72 polymorphism. Results: Non statistically significant differences were found for the frequencies of p53 genotypes in the different cytological/histological groups (chi(2) = 1.4; P = 0.97) nor for the risk for HPV infection (chi(2) = 1; P = 0.9). Conclusion: This study showed that polymorphism at codon 72 of TP53 gene is not associated with an increased susceptibility to cervical disease and/or HPV infection in the Argentine women population. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.