Comparison of p53 gene mutation between adolescent and senile patients with lung cancer

Abstract

To find out whether there is a difference of p53 gene mutation between adolescent and senile patients with lung cancer. Forty-five patients with lung cancer were divided into two groups. One was adolescent group with age less than 45 years old, another was senile group with age older than 55 years old. p53 genemutation was detected by polymerase chain reaction ( PCR)-single strand conformation polymorphism ( SSCP)-silver staining technique and the mutated p53 gene specimen was analysed by DNA-sequencing . p53 gene mutation rate was 50. 0%( 11/ 22) in the adolescent group and 52. 2%( 12/ 23) in the senile group and therewas no significant difference between the two groups. For small cell lung cancer, the mutation ratewas 70. 0%( 7/ 10) and 75. 0%( 6/ 8) in the two groups respectively. For non-small cell lung cancer, that was 33. 3%( 4/ 12) and 40. 0%( 6/ 15) in the two groups respectively. These results indicate that the p53 gene mutation is a postnatal carcinogenetic factor of lung cancer.