Aims: A case-control study was performed to investigate the relationship between cervical cancer and TP53 polymorphism at codon 72 in young black African women from The Gambia.
Materials and methods: The TP53 polymorphism at codon 72 was examined by PCR amplification and SSCP analysis in 40 patients with primary cervical cancer and in 20 healthy women of the same age and from the same geographical area. The occurrence of TP53 polymorphism in combination with the HPV-16 E6 genotype (assayed by PCR) was evaluated.
Results: The distribution of TP53 genotypes in cervical cancer patients and in the control group was not statistically different (p = 0.45) and homozygosity for argine at residue 72 was not associated with cervical cancer (odds ratio: 1.24; 95% confidence interval 0.21-9.16). Similarly, a different genotype distribution, cervical cancer and presence of HPV-16 E6 were not observed.
Conclusions: These results cannot rule out an association between TP53 polymorphism at codon 72, HPV infection and the etiology of cervical cancer in this population sample.