Using PCR-SSCP and immunohistochemical analyses, mutations of the p53 tumor suppressor gene were examined in 5 cases of primary malignant lymphoma of the brain (diffuse large cell type). By PCR-SSCP and nucleotide analyses, p53 gene mutations were seen in 2 of the 5 cases. The mutation in one case was a missense G: C-T:A transversion at codon 176 (TGC-TTC; Cys-Phe) which was located in the highly conserved domains and adjoined a previously proposed hot spot codon (codon 175) in various tumors. p53 immunoreactivity was also shown in this case. The mutation in another case was a nonsense G:C-A:T transition at codon 52 (TGG-TGA; Trp-stop codon) leading to a truncated p53 peptide. Thus, these mutations may have actually given rise to serious structural and functional alterations of the p53 protein. These findings suggested that the p53 gene mutation was related with oncogenesis in the primary malignant lymphoma of the brain.