Selective G to T mutations of p53 gene in hepatocellular carcinoma from southern Africa.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a prevalent cancer in sub-Saharan Africa and eastern Asia. Hepatitis B virus and aflatoxins are risk factors for HCC, but the molecular mechanism of human hepatocellular carcinogenesis is largely unknown. Abnormalities in the structure and expression of the tumour-suppressor gene p53 are frequent in HCC cell lines, and allelic losses from chromosome 17p have been found in HCCs from China and Japan. Here we report on allelic deletions from chromosome 17p and mutations of the p53 gene found in 50% of primary HCCs from southern Africa. Four of five mutations detected were G----T substitutions, with clustering at codon 249. This mutation specificity could reflect exposure to a specific carcinogen, one candidate being aflatoxin B1 (ref. 7), a food contaminant in Africa, which is both a mutagen that induces G to T substitution and a liver-specific carcinogen.     

黄曲霉毒素高污染区肝细胞癌P53基因高频率定点突变

用聚合酶链反应及限制性片段长度多态性（ＰＣＲ＿ＲＦＬＰ）分析技术，对广西黄曲霉毒素高污染２例肝细胞癌（ＨＣＣ）进行分析，检查Ｐ５３基因第７外显子的２４９密码子的突变频率。结果发现３６／５２例ＨＣＣ中２４８密码子有集中的点突变，频率为６９．２％。Ｐ５３基因突变热点与乙型肝炎病毒感染无关。提示黄曲霉毒素Ｂ１是突变热点的主要原因。     

南宁地区肝细胞性肝癌中突变型p53蛋白表达

用ＡＢＣ免疫组织化学方法，对南宁地区居民中１３例肝细胞性肝癌（ＨＣＣ）的活检组织进行研究。发现其中８例有突变型ｐ＾５３蛋白呈强阳性表达，占ＨＣＣ病例数６４．３％。南宁地区某些县，如扶绥县是我国著名的ＨＣＣ高发区，不但ＨＢＶ感染率高，而且是全国少有的ＡＦＢ１高污染区，后者的作用不能忽视。与江苏启东和南部非洲ＨＣＣ高发区一样，估计也会出现ｐ＾５３基因突变热点。     

广西肝癌中HBV感染与N-ras基因突变的研究

应用ＰＣＲ－ＳＳＣＰ和免疫组化法检测２９例广西南部肝癌组织中的Ｎ－ｒａｓ基因突变和ＨＢＶ感染状况，结果，肝癌中Ｎ－ｒａｓ基因在第２￣３７密码子之间的突变率为７９．３％，其中２２例有２￣５个突变位点，该基因突变也见于癌旁组织，肝组织中ＨＢｓＡｇ和ＨＢｓＡｇ和ＨＢｘＡｇ检出率分别为８６．２％和７９．３％，两者具有相关性，并与Ｎ－ｒａｓ基因突变率呈相平行的趋势。因广西南部的肝癌与ＡＦＢ１污染有关，本研究     

Interaction of hepatitis B virus with tumor suppressor gene p53: its significance and biological function

The mechanism of the interaction of hepatitis B virus (HBV) with tumor suppressor p53 and its role in the hepatocar-cinogenesis have been studied by PCR-directed sequencing, gel shift assays and in situ ultraviolet cross-linking assay. The biological function of the interaction of HBV with p53 gene was investigated by co-transfection of chloramphenicol acetyltransferase ( CAT) reporter gene. p53 and HBV DNA. and quantitative PCR. Among the 16 primary hepatocellular carcinoma (PHC) samples. 13 were HBV-DNA positive. 10 HBxAg positive and 9 p53 protein positive. The p53 gene point mutation was found in 5 samples, one of which had a G to T substitution located at codon 249. After analyzing the HBV genome by a computer program, a p53 response element binding sequence was found in HBV genome at upstream of enhancer I. from 1047 to 1059 nucleotides. This sequence could specifically bind to p53 protein, increase p53 protein accumulation in the PHC cells and stimulate the transactivating activity of p53 and HBV replication . The results also revealed that HBxAg could combine with p53 protein to form a complex in the cells and enhance CAT expression. Immunocytochemical staining showed that p53 protein complex was located in the cytoplasm and the process of p53 entry to nuclei was. in part, blocked. From our results, we conclude that the mutation of p53 gene at codon 249 is infrequent in HBV-associated PHC. the DNA-protein binding between HBV and p53. and the protein-protein binding between HBxAg and p53 might lead to the reduction or inactivation of p53 protein, which in turn resulting in HBV-associated hepatocarcinogenesis.     

原发性肝癌P53基因第249密码子突变的研究

用聚合酶链反应－限制性片段长度多态性（ＰＣＲ－ＲＦＬＰ）技术对７例原发性肝细胞癌（ＰＨＣ）进行Ｐ＾５３基因第２４９密码子突变的检测。结果：７例肝细胞癌中３例有Ｐ＾５３基因第２４９密码子突变，突变率达４２．９％。     

Germ-line transmission of a mutated p53 gene in a cancer-prone family with Li-Fraumeni syndrome

Tumour suppressor genes, whose usual function seems to be controlling normal cell proliferation, have been implicated in many inherited and sporadic forms of malignancies Much evidence supports the concept of tumour formation by loss-of-function mutations in suppressor genes, as predicted by the two-hit model of Knudson and DeMars. The suppressor gene, p53, is affected in such a manner by numerous mutations, which occur in a variety of human tumours. These mutations usually represent the loss of one allele and the substitution of a single base in the other. We have now analysed the p53 gene in a family affected by Li-Fraumeni syndrome, a rare autosomal dominant syndrome characterized by the occurrence of diverse mesenchymal and epithelial neoplasms at multiple sites. In some instances the neoplasms seem to be related to exposure to carcinogens, including ionizing radiation. The Li-Fraumeni family that we studied had noncancerous skin fibroblasts (NSF) with an unusual radiation-resistant phenotype. DNA derived from the NSF cells of four family members, spanning two generations, had the same point mutation in codon 245 (GGC----GAC) of the p53 gene. This mutation leads to substitution of aspartic acid for glycine in one of the regions identified as a frequent target of point mutations in p53. The NSF cell lines with the mutation also retained the normal p53 allele. This inherited p53 mutation may predispose the members of this family to increased susceptibility to cancer.     

Carcinogen-specific mutation and amplification of Ha-ras during mouse skin carcinogenesis

Cellular proto-oncogenes can be activated by both point mutations and chromosomal translocations, suggesting that there may be a direct link between exposure to agents which damage DNA and genetic change leading to malignancy. Several groups have therefore analysed mutations found in cellular oncogenes of tumours induced by particular physical or chemical carcinogens. Here, we have analysed the molecular changes at different stages of carcinogenesis in mouse skin tumours induced by initiating and promoting agents. Over 90% of tumours, including premalignant papillomas, initiated with dimethylbenzanthracene (DMBA) have a specific A----T transversion at the second nucleotide of codon 61 of the Harvey-ras (Ha-ras) gene. The frequency of this mutation was dependent on the initiating agent used, but not on the promoter, suggesting that the mutation occurs at the time of initiation. The mutation was heterozygous in most papillomas tested, but was homozygous or amplified in some carcinomas. The development of further chromosomal changes at the c-Ha-ras gene locus is therefore a common feature of tumour progression.     

Diagnosis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma by Using Methylation Specific-PCR

To find a more sensitive and earlier diagnostic marker for hepatocellular carcinoma, methylation-profils of CpG islands in the promoter of eleven genes in hepatocellular carcinoma（HCC） carcinoma and pericarcinoma tissues from ten patients were examined by using methylation-specific PCR （MSP） method. MSP was used to detect the methylation of p16, p53, Secreted frizzled-related protein 1 （SFRP 1） and SFRP2 promoters. Meanwhile, plasma alpha-fetoprotein （AFP） levels in 53 patients were also determined. The results showed that HCC was closely correlated to methylation in promoter of tumor-suppressing gene p16, p53, SFRP1 and SFRP2. The results suggest that methylation of SFRP2 promoter is possible a better marker for diagnosis of HCC than plasma Alpha-fetoprotein （AFP） levels. The false negative of SFRP1 and SFRP2 are perfectly complementary. If SFRP1 and SFRP2 were both considered as a complementary positive marker at the same time, the accurate rate for diagnosis of HCC is 100%.     

Senescence and tumour clearance is triggered by p53 restoration in murine liver carcinomas

Although cancer arises from a combination of mutations in oncogenes and tumour suppressor genes, the extent to which tumour suppressor gene loss is required for maintaining established tumours is poorly understood. p53 is an important tumour suppressor that acts to restrict proliferation in response to DNA damage or deregulation of mitogenic oncogenes, by leading to the induction of various cell cycle checkpoints, apoptosis or cellular senescence. Consequently, p53 mutations increase cell proliferation and survival, and in some settings promote genomic instability and resistance to certain chemotherapies. To determine the consequences of reactivating the p53 pathway in tumours, we used RNA interference (RNAi) to conditionally regulate endogenous p53 expression in a mosaic mouse model of liver carcinoma. We show that even brief reactivation of endogenous p53 in p53-deficient tumours can produce complete tumour regressions. The primary response to p53 was not apoptosis, but instead involved the induction of a cellular senescence program that was associated with differentiation and the upregulation of inflammatory cytokines. This program, although producing only cell cycle arrest in vitro, also triggered an innate immune response that targeted the tumour cells in vivo, thereby contributing to tumour clearance. Our study indicates that p53 loss can be required for the maintenance of aggressive carcinomas, and illustrates how the cellular senescence program can act together with the innate immune system to potently limit tumour growth.     

Mutations in the p53 gene occur in diverse human tumour types

The p53 gene has been a constant source of fascination since its discovery nearly a decade ago. Originally considered to be an oncogene, several convergent lines of research have indicated that the wild-type gene product actually functions as a tumour suppressor gene. For example, expression of the neoplastic phenotype is inhibited, rather than promoted, when rat cells are transfected with the murine wild-type p53 gene together with mutant p53 genes and/or other oncogenes. Moreover, in human tumours, the short arm of chromosome 17 is often deleted. In colorectal cancers, the smallest common region of deletion is centred at 17p13.1; this region harbours the p53 gene, and in two tumours examined in detail, the remaining (non-deleted) p53 alleles were found to contain mutations. This result was provocative because allelic deletion coupled with mutation of the remaining allele is a theoretical hallmark of tumour-suppressor genes. In the present report, we have attempted to determine the generality of this observation; that is, whether tumours with allelic deletions of chromosome 17p contain mutant p53 genes in the allele that is retained. Our results suggest that (1) most tumours with such allelic deletions contain p53 point mutations resulting in amino-acid substitutions, (2) such mutations are not confined to tumours with allelic deletion, but also occur in at least some tumours that have retained both parental 17p alleles, and (3) p53 gene mutations are clustered in four 'hot-spots' which exactly coincide with the four most highly conserved regions of the gene. These results suggest that p53 mutations play a role in the development of many common human malignancies.     

Secondary mutations as a mechanism of cisplatin resistance in BRCA2-mutated cancers

Ovarian carcinomas with mutations in the tumour suppressor BRCA2 are particularly sensitive to platinum compounds. However, such carcinomas ultimately develop cisplatin resistance. The mechanism of that resistance is largely unknown. Here we show that acquired resistance to cisplatin can be mediated by secondary intragenic mutations in BRCA2 that restore the wild-type BRCA2 reading frame. First, in a cisplatin-resistant BRCA2-mutated breast-cancer cell line, HCC1428, a secondary genetic change in BRCA2 rescued BRCA2 function. Second, cisplatin selection of a BRCA2-mutated pancreatic cancer cell line, Capan-1 (refs 3, 4), led to five different secondary mutations that restored the wild-type BRCA2 reading frame. All clones with secondary mutations were resistant both to cisplatin and to a poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitor (AG14361). Finally, we evaluated recurrent cancers from patients whose primary BRCA2-mutated ovarian carcinomas were treated with cisplatin. The recurrent tumour that acquired cisplatin resistance had undergone reversion of its BRCA2 mutation. Our results suggest that secondary mutations that restore the wild-type BRCA2 reading frame may be a major clinical mediator of acquired resistance to platinum-based chemotherapy.     

苯并芘诱发的人支气管癌细胞系p53基因突变的研究

ＢＴ癌系是用苯并芘称在移植到裸鼠皮下的人胎儿支气管内诱发的肿瘤，为了深入了解苯并芘的致癌机理，我们对该癌系中ｐ５３基因的改变进行了系统的研究。结果表明，ＢＴ细胞核内ｐ５３蛋白异常高表达；ＰＣＲ－ＳＳＣＰ检测到第７外显子有异常改变；Ｄ 列分析证实第２４８密码子发生了ＣＧＧ→ＣＴＴ的颠换，所编码的氨基酸由精氨酸变为亮氨到。本实验提示该害变可能是七产芘引起癌变的重要分子基础。     

Inactivation of the p53 pathway in retinoblastoma

Most human tumours have genetic mutations in their Rb and p53 pathways, but retinoblastoma is thought to be an exception. Studies suggest that retinoblastomas, which initiate with mutations in the gene retinoblastoma 1 (RB1), bypass the p53 pathway because they arise from intrinsically death-resistant cells during retinal development. In contrast to this prevailing theory, here we show that the tumour surveillance pathway mediated by Arf, MDM2, MDMX and p53 is activated after loss of RB1 during retinogenesis. RB1-deficient retinoblasts undergo p53-mediated apoptosis and exit the cell cycle. Subsequently, amplification of the MDMX gene and increased expression of MDMX protein are strongly selected for during tumour progression as a mechanism to suppress the p53 response in RB1-deficient retinal cells. Our data provide evidence that the p53 pathway is inactivated in retinoblastoma and that this cancer does not originate from intrinsically death-resistant cells as previously thought. In addition, they support the idea that MDMX is a specific chemotherapeutic target for treating retinoblastoma.     

p53蛋白与肝细胞癌临床病理特征及预后的关系

目的 探讨p53蛋白表达与肝细胞癌的临床病理特征及预后的关系,为术后综合治疗及判断预后提供依据。方法 采用免疫组织化学方法检测88例肝细胞癌组织中p53蛋白的表达,比较阳性患者和阴性患者的临床病理因素和术后累积复发率、术后累积生存率的差异。结果 p53蛋白表达阳性组1、2、3累积生存率分别为75．0％、54.4%、24．2％,阴性组相应的分别为84．3％、77．8％、56．1％。与阴性组相比,p53蛋白阳性组有较高的术前AFP浓度（P=0．005）、有较大的肿瘤最大直径（P=0．042）、肿瘤包膜不完整或无包膜者多见（P=0．023）。结论 p53蛋白是评价肝细胞癌恶性程度及预后的一个有价值的生物学指标。     

P53和MDM2蛋白表达对肝细胞肝癌预后判断的意义

目的 :研究肝细胞肝癌中突变型P5 3和MDM2蛋白的表达对临床预后判断的意义。方法 :应用免疫组织化学方法 ,检测 72例原发性肝细胞肝癌手术切除标本突变型P5 3、MDM2蛋白的表达 ;与临床病理学指标和术后生存期进行分析比较。结果 :突变型P5 3蛋白阳性 2 8例(38 89% ) ,MDM2蛋白阳性 2 3例 (31 94 % ) ,二者阳性表达有相关性 (r =0 2 4 8,P <0 0 5 )。突变型P5 3、MDM2蛋白阳性表达病例生存率明显低于突变型P5 3、MDM2蛋白阴性表达病例 (P <0 0 1)。突变型P5 3和MDM2蛋白表达均阳性病例 13例 (18 0 6 % ) ,中位生存期的生存率最低。单因素及多因素分析显示 ,突变型P5 3蛋白表达、MDM2蛋白表达、肿瘤大小与中位生存期的生存率有关 ,MDM2是统计学上最有意义的独立预后指标 (P <0 0 0 0 1)。结论 :应用免疫组织化学方法检测突变型P5 3和MDM2蛋白的表达可作为原发性肝细胞肝癌预后判断的指标。     

Mutations analysis of STK11 ene in Chinese families with Peutz-Jeghers syndrome

Peutz-Jeghers syndrome (PJS) is an autosomal dominantly inherited disease characterized by multiple gastrointestinal hamartomatous polyps and melanin spots on lips and buccal mucosa, with an increased risk for various cancers. ThePJS gene, a potential tumour suppressor gene, encoding a serine/ threonie kinase (STK11), was mapped to chromosome 19p13.3. To investigate the mutations of STK11 gene in Chinese with PJS, we analyzed its coding sequence in fifteen patientsand twenty unaffected members of six families, including three multigenerational families with PJS and three sporadic families with PJS, by PCR, PCR-DHPLC and DNA sequencing techniques. Ten point mutations were found in the six families, including five missense mutations, one acceptor-splice site mutation, a nonsense mutation and three silent mutations. Our data showed that five missense mutations occurrd at codon 123 (CAG to CAT) in exon 2, codon 161 (ATT to AGT) in exon 4,codon 194 (GAC to GAG) in exon 4, codon 245 (CTC to TTC) in exon 5 and codon 354 (TTC to TTG) in exon 8. One kind of nonsense mutation was detected at codon 37(CAG to TAG) in exon 1. Furthermore, we found an intronic mutation at a splice-acceptor site: a one base substitution from AG to AA in intron 4. These mutations were not detected in 20 normal DNA samples. In three sporadic families, only in one patient, we detected a missense mutation in exon 5. In addition, we found three silent mutations, which may cause polymorphisms of STK11 gene in introns 1(+36), 3(-51) and 5(+27). These results indicated that the point mutation in STK11 might be involved in PJS pathogenesis. Mutation frequency is higher in the families suffering PJS in three or more generations than that of the sporadic cases.     

High frequency of p53 intronic point mutations in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma

Intronic point mutations are rare and totally unknown for human laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC). To explore the relationship of p53 gene intronic mutation to the development of human LSCC, DNA was extracted from both tumor tissues and matched normal tissues of 55 patients with LSCC in northeast of China. Polymerase chain reaction amplification-single strand conformational polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) combined with silver staining and DNA direct sequencing were used to detect mutations in exons 7～8 (p53E7 and p53E8) and introns 7～8 (p53I7 and p53I8) of p53 gene. The p53E7 mutation was detected in 17 out of 55 patients, and the p53I7 mutation in 21 patients. No mutation was found at p53E8 or p53I8 site. The difference between tumor group and paired normal group on the rates of both p53E7 and p53I7 mutations was statistically significant. The rate of p53I7 mutations in tumor tissue was higher than that of normal tissue, and so was that of p53E7. Sequence analysis revealed that most p53I7 mutations were at the nucleotides in the branch point sequence or the polypyrimidine tract in the 3′-splice acceptor site of the intron 7. The high incidence of p53 gene intronic mutation in LSCC indicates that genetic changes within the noncoding region of the p53 gene may serve as an alternative mechanism of activating the pathogenesis of human laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma. Mutations in the noncoding region of this gene should be further studied.     

Activation of the DNA damage checkpoint and genomic instability in human precancerous lesions

DNA damage checkpoint genes, such as p53, are frequently mutated in human cancer, but the selective pressure for their inactivation remains elusive. We analysed a panel of human lung hyperplasias, all of which retained wild-type p53 genes and had no signs of gross chromosomal instability, and found signs of a DNA damage response, including histone H2AX and Chk2 phosphorylation, p53 accumulation, focal staining of p53 binding protein 1 (53BP1) and apoptosis. Progression to carcinoma was associated with p53 or 53BP1 inactivation and decreased apoptosis. A DNA damage response was also observed in dysplastic nevi and in human skin xenografts, in which hyperplasia was induced by overexpression of growth factors. Both lung and experimentally-induced skin hyperplasias showed allelic imbalance at loci that are prone to DNA double-strand break formation when DNA replication is compromised (common fragile sites). We propose that, from its earliest stages, cancer development is associated with DNA replication stress, which leads to DNA double-strand breaks, genomic instability and selective pressure for p53 mutations.