Abstract

The aim of this study was to analysis the relationship between p53 codon 72 polymorphism with human papillomavirus (HPV) 16 and 18 E6 in Chinese cervical cancer. A total of 81 cervical squamous cancer (specimens of G1, G2, and G3 are 13, 24, and 44, respectively; and of stage IB, IIA, IIB, and IIIA are 15, 37, 24, and 5, respectively), 18 cervical adenocarcinoma, 88 cervical intraepithelial neoplasm (CIN) (specimens of CIN II and III are 30 and 58), and 60 normal cervical specimens were included in this study. Polymerase chain reaction was used to examine p53 genotypes and HPV 16 and 18 E6. The frequencies of p53 Arg homozygosity in cervical squamous cancer, cervical adenocarcinoma, and CIN (II–III) were 58.02%, 55.55%, and 59.09%, respectively, that was much higher than that of p53 Arg/Pro heterozygosity (30.86%, 27.78%, and 21.59%) and of p53 Pro homozygosity (11.12%, 16.67%, and 19.32%) in each groups and higher than the frequency of p53 Arg homozygosity in normal samples (23.33%). There is no statistic difference in the normal samples for the frequency of p53 Arg homozygosity, p53 Arg/Pro heterozygosity, and p53 Pro homozygosity (23.33%, 40.00%, and 36.67%, respectively). The frequency of p53 Arg homozygosity in high risk (HR)-HPV E6-positive cervical squamous cancer samples (64.06%) is much higher than that in (HR)-HPV E6-negative cervical squamous cancer samples (35.29%) and in HR-HPV E6-positive normal samples (33.33%). No difference of p53 codon 72 polymorphism was found according to FIGO staging and grades. In conclusion, based on the findings of this study, it is suggested that p53 Arg homozygosity could act as a potential risk factor for the tumorigenesis of the cervix. p53 codon 72 polymorphism has no relation with the FIGO staging and grades of cervical cancer. p53 Arg homozygosity and HR-HPV E6 positive simultaneously can predict the fate of cervical lesions.