Few reports are available on mutations in the promoter of tumour suppressor genes like p16, WT1 and Rb in cancers. However, the involvement of p53 promoter in cancers is not clearly known. Further, methylation of CpG sites is a major contributor of mutations in several genes. So an attempt has been made to determine the mutation and methylation status of p53 promoter in breast tumours. Results have demonstrated absence of mutations and deletions in p53 promoter, leading us to conclude that mutation of p53 promoter is probably not a significant factor in breast tumorigenesis. Methylation analysis has shown that the CCGG sites in the p53 promoter are unmethylated unlike that of its exons. Further, it has been shown that there is no change in the methylation profile of the CCGG sites in breast tumours. However, such studies are to be conducted in different types of tumours to define the role of p53 promoter mutation and methylation in the process of tumorigenesis.
Copyright 1999 S. Karger AG, Basel