Background: Aggressive squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is known to occur in scars that develop after a burn injury, especially in the underdeveloped areas of the world where care is lacking. Because most SCC are associated with abnormalities in tumor suppressor genes, particularly p53, we postulated that similar mechanisms may underlie the development of burn-associated SCC.
Methods: We analyzed tissue DNA from a patient who died from an aggressive SCC in a burn scar for evidence of p53 gene abnormalities by polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemical staining for p53 protein.
Results: Using polymerase chain reaction, the p53 gene could not be detected in DNA from the patient's cancer. The p53 protein was also undetectable by immunohistochemical staining.
Conclusion: These studies indicate that there was a homozygous deletion of the p53 gene in this burn-related carcinoma. Further studies of other patients may lead to new understanding of this cancer, explain in part the usual aggressive behavior, and lead to new methods of prevention and treatment.