TP53 codon 72 polymorphism in pigmentary phenotypes

The p53 protein exerts different cellular functions, and recent findings have demonstrated its influence on the cascade of skin pigmentation during UV exposure. Among TP53 gene polymorphisms, the most studied is the G to C transversion in exon 4 at codon 72, which results in three distinct genotypes, Arg/Arg, Pro/Pro and Arg/Pro, each one encoding different p53 isoforms. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the relationship between TP53 codon 72 polymorphism and skin protection against sunburn. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood samples and genotyping was performed by PCR and confirmed by restriction enzyme digestion. The genotype frequency was 50% for Arg/Arg and 14.6% for Pro/Pro genotype. The frequency of heterozygous subjects was 35.4%. In our population, p53 genotypes were in Hardy-Weinberg (HW) equilibrium (X2 HM less than 3.84), showing a predominance of arginine allele (total Arg allele frequency of 68%). No significant association between p53 genotype and skin colour, hair or eye colour and susceptibility to sun exposure was found. However, further analysis demonstrated a significant association between the genotype Pro/Pro and blue/green eyes among participants who presented redness (P=0.016). Our findings indicate susceptibility to sun exposure when this phenotype (eye colour) occurs simultaneously with Pro/Pro genotype.     

Association of TP53 gene codon 72 polymorphism with endometriosis in Mexican women

The TP53 tumor suppressor gene plays an important role in cell cycle regulation; polymorphisms of this gene have been associated with endometriosis. We examined the role of TP53 codon 72 polymorphism by comparing genotypes of 235 healthy Mexican women (controls with surgically excluded endometriosis) with the genotypes of 151 Mexican women with endometriosis. The observed genotype frequencies for controls and endometriosis patients were 8 and 22% for proline/proline (Pro/Pro), 30 and 34% for proline/arginine (Pro/Arg), and 62 and 44% for arginine/arginine (Arg/Arg), respectively. We found that odds ratio (OR) = 3.3; 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) = 1.7-6.4; P = 0.0001. The association was also evident in the comparison of the distributions of genotypes Pro/Pro and Pro/Arg in patients with moderate-to-severe endometriosis; OR = 1.9; 95%CI = 0.95-3.9; P = 0.049. We suggest that genotype Pro/Pro of codon 72 polymorphism in TP53 contributes significantly to endometriosis susceptibility in the Mexican population.     

Association of p53 Arg72Pro polymorphism with gastric cancer: a meta-analysis

Background: p53 tumor suppressor gene Arg72Pro polymorphism has been associated with gastric cancer. However, results were inconsistent. We performed this meta-analysis to estimate the association between p53 Arg72Pro polymorphism and gastric cancer.

Methods: An electronic search of PubMed was conducted to select studies. Studies containing available genotype frequencies of Arg72Pro were chosen, and the association was assess by pooled odds ratio (ORs) with 95% confidence interval (CIs).

Results: The meta-analysis suggested that the p53 Arg72Pro was associated with the gastric cancer risk (Additive model: OR = 1.149, 95% CI = 1.045–1.263, p = 0.004; Dominant model: OR = 1.18, 95% CI = 1.049–1.328, p = 0.006; Recessive model: OR = 1.202, 95% CI = 1.013–1.427, p = 0.035) in Asian subgroup.

Conclusion: This meta-analysis suggests that p53 Arg72Pro polymorphism is associated with increased risk of gastric cancer in Asians.     

The association of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">TP53</Emphasis> polymorphisms Pro72Arg and C(−594)CC with diabetic polyneuropathy in Russian Muscovites with type 1 diabetes mellitus

The allele and genotype frequency distributions of the Pro72Arg and C(?594)CC polymorphisms of the TP53 gene were studied in type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) patients, ethnic Russians from Moscow, with a T1DM record of no more than 5 years and diabetic polyneuropathy (DPN) or a T1DM record of more than 10 years but without DPN. The Pro72Arg polymorphism was associated with DPN, a higher risk of DPN being determined by allele Arg (OR = 1.96, CI 1.32?2.90) and genotype Arg/Arg (OR = 2.14, CI 1.23?3.73). Allele Pro was associated with a lower risk of DPN (OR = 0.51, CI 0.34?0.76). No association with DPN was observed for the C(?594)CC polymorphism.     

湖南地区汉族人群p53 基因第72 位密码子多态性与宫颈鳞癌的相关性

目的:探讨宫颈组织p53基因第72位密码子的多态性及分析第72位密码子的多态性与湖南地区汉族人群宫颈鳞癌的相关性。方法:采用PCR方法扩增101例正常宫颈和150例宫颈鳞癌石蜡组织p53基因第72位密码子基因,回收目的片段进行测序。采用SPSS 11.5软件分析p53基因第72位密码子的多态性。结果:p53第72位密码子基因测序结果显示,在宫颈鳞癌组织中Arg/Arg、Pro/Pro、Arg/Pro所占比例分别为40.66%、16.67%、42.67%;在正常宫颈组织中Arg/Arg、Pro/Pro、Arg/Pro所占比例分别为47.53%、7.92%、44.55%。统计学分析结果显示,Arg/Arg和Arg/Pro基因型在宫颈鳞癌和对照组中的表达差异没有统计学意义(P>0.05);Pro/Pro基因型在宫颈鳞癌组中所占比例显著高于正常宫颈组织(P<0.05)。结论:p53基因第72位密码子Pro/pro基因型是湖南地区女性发生宫颈鳞癌易感因素。     

Association of XRCC1 Arg399GIn and Tp53 Arg72Pro polymorphisms and increased risk of uterine leiomyoma - A case-control study

The aim of present study was to investigate the role of the X-ray repair cross-complementing protein1 (XRCC1) and Tumor protein p53 (Tp53) polymorphisms in Uterine Leiomyoma (UL) susceptibility in southeastern Iran. This case control study was performed on 139 women with UL and 149 age, BMI and ethnicity matched healthy women. All women were genotyped for the XRCC1 Arg399Gln, XRCC1 Arg194Trp and Tp53 Arg72Pro polymorphisms. The frequency of Tp53 72 Pro/Pro genotype was significantly higher in UL women compared to controls. The risk of UL was 1.5 fold higher in women with the Pro/Pro genotype (OR, 1.5 [95% CI, 1.1 to 2.1], p = 0.012). Moreover, the frequency of the Pro allele was significantly higher in the UL women. Although the frequency of XRCC1 Arg399Gln genotypes did not significantly differ between UL and control groups before adjusting for age, there was an association between the XRCC1 Arg/Gln genotype and UL after adjusting for age (OR, 1.8 [95% CI, 1.1 to 3]). No association was observed between the XRCC1 Arg194Trp polymorphism and UL. The Pro/Pro genotype of Tp53 Arg72Pro polymorphism was associated with UL susceptibility. In addition, the XRCC1 Arg/Gln genotype was associated with increased risk of UL after adjusting for age.     

An updated meta-analysis of the p53 codon 72 polymorphism and gastric cancer risk

To investigate the association between p53 codon 72 polymorphisms and gastric cancer risk, a meta-analysis published in 2007 was updated with new data. Relevant literature was retrieved by searching PubMed and statistical analysis conducted using Review Manager software. Twenty-eight case-control studies were included in this meta-analysis, with 6,859 cases and 9,277 controls. The pooled results for all included studies showed that patients with gastric cancer had a borderline lower frequency of the Arg/Arg phenotype (odds ratio (OR) = 0.91, 95 % CI = 0.83-1.00, p = 0.04). When stratified for race, the difference in Arg/Arg frequency was significant among Asians (OR = 0.87, 95 % CI = 0.78-0.97, p = 0.01). On stratifying the various studies we found that, among Asians: (i) patients with cardial gastric cancer had a significantly higher frequency of the Pro/Pro genotype (OR = 1.35, 95 % CI = 1.03-1.77, p = 0.04) than those with non-cardial gastric cancer; (ii) patients with advanced (stage III/IV) gastric cancer had a significantly higher frequency of Arg/Arg (OR = 1.30, 95 % CI = 1.06-1.61, p = 0.01) than those with early (stage I/II) cancer; and (iii) patients with metastasis had a significantly higher frequency of Pro/Pro (OR = 3.31, 95 % CI = 1.31-8.41) than those without metastasis. Our study suggests that, among Asians, the p53 codon 72 Arg/Arg genotype is associated with a modestly decreased risk of gastric cancer, and that this difference in genotype distribution may be associated with cancer stage, location, differentiation and metastasis.     

湖南地区汉族人群p53基因第72位密码子多态性与宫颈鳞癌的相关性

目的：探讨宫颈组织p53基因第72位密码子的多态性及分析第72位密码子的多态性与湖南地区汉族人群宫颈鳞癌的相关性。方法：采用PCR方法扩增101例正常宫颈和150例宫颈鳞癌石蜡组织p53基因第72位密码子基因,回收目的片段进行测序。采用SPSS11．5软件分析p53基因第72位密码子的多态性。结果：p53第72位密码子基因测序结果显示,在宫颈鳞癌组织中Arg／Arg、Pro／Pro、Arg／Pro所占比例分别为40．66％、16．67％、42．67％;在正常宫颈组织中Arg／Arg、Pro／Pro、Arg／Pro所占比例分别为47．53％、7．92％、44．55％。统计学分析结果显示,Arg／Arg和Arg／Pro基因型在宫颈鳞癌和对照组中的表达差异没有统计学意义（P〉0．05）;Pro／Pro基因型在宫颈鳞癌组中所占比例显著高于正常宫颈组织（P〈0．05）。结论：p53基因第72位密码子Pro／pro基因型是湖南地区女性发生宫颈鳞癌易感因素。     

P53 codon 11, 72, and 248 gene polymorphisms in endometriosis

OBJECTIVE: Mutated p53 gene is related to the instability of cell growth and cell cycle progression. We aimed to evaluate the association between endometriosis and p53 codon 11, 72 and 248 gene polymorphisms.PATIENTS AND METHODS: Women were divided into two groups: (1) moderate/severe endometriosis (n=148), and (2) non-endometriosis groups (n=150). P53 gene polymorphisms include codon11 Glu/Gln or Lys (GAG->CAG or AAG), codon 72 Arg/Pro (CGC->CCC), and codon 248 Arg/Thr (CGG->TCG). These gene polymorphisms were amplified by polymerase chain reaction and detected by electrophoresis after restriction enzyme (Taq I, BstU I, Hap II) digestions. Associations between the endometriosis and p53 polymorphisms were evaluated.RESULTS: The distributions of p53 codon 72 polymorphisms in both groups were significantly different. The proportions of Arg homozygotes/heterozygotes/Pro homozygotes in both groups were 9.5/66.2/24.3% and 30.7/50/19.3%. The proportions of Arg/Pro alleles were 42.6/57.4% and 56/44%. The distributions of p53 codon 11 and 248 polymorphisms in both groups were non-significantly different. All individuals appeared the wild genotypes (Glu11 and Arg248 homozygotes).CONCLUSION: Association between endometriosis and p53 codon 72 polymorphism exists. P53 codon 72*Pro-related genotype and allele are related with higher susceptibility of endometriosis. P53 codon 11 and 248 polymorphisms are not related with endometriosis susceptibility.     

The genetic association study of TP53 polymorphisms in Saudi obese patients

Obesity is a multifactorial metabolic disorder characterized by low grade chronic inflammation. Rare and novel mutations in genes which are vital in several key pathways have been reported to alter the energy expenditure which regulates body weight. The TP53 or p53 gene plays a prominent role in regulating various metabolic activities such as glycolysis, lipolysis, and glycogen synthesis. Recent genome-wide association studies reported that tumor suppressor gene p53 variants play a critical role in the predisposition of type 2 diabetes and obesity. Till date, no reports are available from the Arabian population; hence the present study was intended to assess the association between p53 variants with risk of obesity development in the Saudi population. We have selected three p53 polymorphisms, rs1642785 (C > G), and rs9894946 (A > G), and rs1042522 (Pro72Arg; C > G) and assessed their association with obesity risk in the Saudi population. Phenotypic and biochemical parameters were also evaluated to check their association with p53 genotypes and obesity. Genotyping was carried out on 136 obese and 122 normal samples. We observed that there is significantly increased prevalence p52 Pro72Arg (rs1042522) polymorphism in obese persons when compared to controls at GG genotype in overall comparison (OR: 2.169, 95% CI: 1.086-4.334, p = 0.02716). Male obese subjects showed three-fold higher risk at GG genotype (OR: 3.275, 95% CI: 1.230-8.716, p = 0.01560) and two-fold risk at G allele (OR: 1.827, 95% CI: 1.128-2.958, p = 0.01388) of p53 variant Pro72Arg respectively. This variant has also shown significant influence on cholesterol, LDL level, and random insulin levels in obese subjects (p ≤ 0.05). In conclusion, p53 Pro72Arg variant is highly prevalent among obese individuals and may act as a genetic modifier for obesity development among Saudis.     

Influence of Arg72Pro polymorphisms of TP53 on the response of buccal cells to radiotherapy

Polymorphisms in the TP53 gene codon 72 (Arg72Pro) influence apoptosis induction and DNA damage repair. We evaluated how variants of protein p53 (p53Arg and p53Pro) affect cell death and DNA damage repair by analyzing the frequencies of karyorrhexis and micronuclei. There were significant differences in the frequency of karyorrhexis between the three p53 genotypes (Arg/Arg, Arg/Pro, and Pro/Pro), between samples taken before and after radiotherapy, and between patients and controls. The frequency of micronucleated cells increased significantly after radiotherapy. There were no significant differences in the micronucleus frequency in healthy tissues of these patients compared to controls, or in the comparisons between the three genotypes. We conclude that Arg72Pro polymorphism influences cell apoptotic capacity. This is the first study investigating karyorrhexis and micronuclei, as indicators of apoptosis after radiotherapy, and how these indicators are influenced by the TP53 polymorphism Arg72Pro.     

TP53 Pro72 Allele Is Enriched in Oral Tongue Cancer and Frequently Mutated in Esophageal Cancer in India

Purpose

The tumor suppressor p53 is known to be inactivated frequently in various cancers. In addition, germline polymorphisms in TP53 are known to affect protein function and influence risk of developing different types of cancers. In this study, we analyzed the association of TP53 Pro72Arg polymorphism with squamous cell carcinoma of oral tongue (SCCOT) and esophagus (ESCC) in India.

Methods

We assessed the distribution of TP53 Pro72Arg polymorphism in one hundred and fifteen and eighty two SCCOT and ESCC patients, respectively, with respect to one hundred and ten healthy controls from the same population. In addition, we analyzed association of the polymorphism with several clinico-pathological and molecular parameters.

Results

Pro72 allele was significantly enriched in SCCOT patients compared to the healthy control group but neither allele was enriched in ESCC. Interestingly, Pro72 allele was preferentially mutated in ESCC which was confirmed by analysis of samples heterozygous for Pro72Arg.

Conclusions

Our study revealed the association of Pro72 allele with SCCOT suggesting the effect of this polymorphism on SCCOT risk. Preferential mutation of Pro72 allele exclusively in ESCC indicates the need for further studies to understand the tissue specific effect of p53 polymorphism.     

Investigation on the role of p53 codon 72 polymorphism and interactions with tobacco, betel quid, and alcohol in susceptibility to cancers in a high-risk population from North East India

The association of TP53 codon 72 polymorphism with cancer susceptibility remains uncertain and varies with ethnicity. Northeast India represents a geographically, culturally, and ethnically isolated population. The area reports high rate of tobacco usage in a variety of ways of consumption, compared with the rest of Indian population. A total of 411 cancer patients (161 lung, 134 gastric, and 116 oral) and 282 normal controls from the ethnic population were analyzed for p53 codon 72 polymorphism by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. No significant difference in genotypic distribution of p53 between cases and controls was observed. Results suggested betel quid chewing as a major risk factor for all the three cancers (odds ratio [OR]=3.54, confidence interval [CI]=2.01-6.25, p<0.001; OR=1.74, CI=1.04-2.92, p=0.03; and OR=1.85, CI=1.02-3.33, p=0.04 for lung, gastric, and oral cancers, respectively). Tobacco smoking was associated with risk of lung and oral cancers (OR=1.88, CI=1.11-3.19, p=0.01 and OR=1.68, CI=1.00-2.81, p=0.04). Interactions between p53 genotypes and risk factors were analyzed to look for gene-environment interactions. Interaction of smoking and p53 genotype was significant only for oral cancer. Interactions of betel quid with p53 genotypes in lung cancer showed significant increase for all the three genotypes, indicating a major role of betel quid (OR=5.90, CI=1.67-20.81, p=0.006; OR=5.44, CI=1.67-17.75, p=0.005; and OR=5.84, CI=1.70-19.97, p=0.005 for Arg/Arg, Arg/Pro, and Pro/Pro, respectively). In conclusion, high incidence of these cancers in northeast India might be an outcome of risk habits; further, tissue- and carcinogen-specific risk modification by p53 gene is probable.     

Study on the association of p53 codon 72 polymorphisms with risk of gastric cancer in high incidence Hexi area of Gansu Province in China

To investigate the possible association of P53 codon 72 Arg/Pro polymorphisms with risk of gastric cancer in the high incidence Hexi area of Gansu province in China. Blood samples from 140 patients with gastric carcinoma and 125 healthy controls were collected in Hexi area of Gansu province. Polymorphism of P53Arg72Pro was genotyped by PCR-TaqMan. For detection Helicobacter pylori infection, Warhin–Starry staining was used. Three kinds of polymorphisms of P53Arg72Pro were Arg/Arg, Arg/Pro, Pro/Pro. The frequencies in gastric cancer group were 15.7, 60.0, 24.3%, and the frequencies in healthy controls were 25.6, 54.4, 20.0%, respectively. P53 codon 72 Pro carrier genotype (Arg/Pro + Pro/Pro) increased risk of gastric carcinoma with an odds ratio 1.840 (95% CI: 1.006–3.387). Helicobacter pylori infection rate was 68.6% in patients group and 50.4% in healthy controls. Helicobacter pylori infection rate in gastric cancer patients was remarkably higher than that in the controls (OR: 2.147, 95% CI: 1.302–3.541, P = 0.003). Stratification analysis showed that P53 codon 72 Pro carrier genotype with Helicobacter pylori infection was significantly higher in cases than that in the controls (OR: 4.182, 95% CI: 1.850–9.454). P53Arg72Pro polymorphisms could be a risk factor for gastric cancer in high incidence Hexi area of Gansu Province in China. P53 codon 72 Pro carrier genotype and Helicobacter pylori positive infection may have a synergistic effect on gastric cancer in high incidence Hexi area of Gansu Province in China.     

Prognostic value of TP53 Pro47Ser and Arg72Pro single nucleotide polymorphisms and the susceptibility to gliomas in individuals from Southeast Brazil

The TP53 tumor suppressor gene codifies a protein responsible for preventing cells with genetic damage from growing and dividing by blocking cell growth or apoptosis pathways. A common single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in TP53 codon 72 (Arg72Pro) induces a 15-fold decrease of apoptosis-inducing ability and has been associated with susceptibility to human cancers. Recently, another TP53 SNP at codon 47 (Pro47Ser) was reported to have a low apoptosis-inducing ability; however, there are no association studies between this SNP and cancer. Aiming to study the role of TP53 Pro47Ser and Arg72Pro on glioma susceptibility and oncologic prognosis of patients, we investigated the genotype distribution of these SNPs in 94 gliomas (81 astrocytomas, 8 ependymomas and 5 oligodendrogliomas) and in 100 healthy subjects by the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism approach. Chi-square and Fisher exact test comparisons for genotype distributions and allele frequencies did not reveal any significant difference between patients and control groups. Overall and disease-free survivals were calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method, and the log-rank test was used for comparisons, but no significant statistical difference was observed between the two groups. Our data suggest that TP53 Pro47Ser and Arg72Pro SNPs are not involved either in susceptibility to developing gliomas or in patient survival, at least in the Brazilian population.     

Haplotype analysis of p53 polymorphisms: Arg72Pro,Ins16bp and G13964C in Tunisian patients with familial or sporadic breast cancer

Background: The p53 polymorphisms have been extensively studied as putative breast cancer susceptibility variants. The present study was undertaken to investigate the association of p53 Arg72Pro, Ins16bp and G13964C polymorphisms and their haplotypes with breast cancer risk in Tunisian women. Methods: Genotyping was performed by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) on 159 patients and 132 controls. Results: The G13964C intronic variant was significantly associated with familial breast cancer risk (p = 0.0018) while the genotypic distribution was similar for p53 Arg72Pro and Ins16bp in patients and controls. Moreover, the (NoIns-C), (Arg-C) and (NoIns-Arg-C) haplotypes were significantly associated with familial breast cancer risk (p = 0.0021, p = 0.0096 and p = 0.0084, respectively) while there was a trend of association between the (Ins-Arg) and (Ins-Arg-G) haplotypes and the risk of sporadic breast cancer. Only the G/C genotype as well as the (NoIns-C) haplotype remained significant after correction for multiple testing. Conclusion: Our data revealed an association between the G/C genotype and the (NoIns-C) haplotype and the risk of familial breast cancer in Tunisian women. However, these observations need to be confirmed due to the limited statistical power of our study and the small number of cases.     

Quantitative assessment of the association between TP53 Arg72Pro polymorphism and bladder cancer risk

Previous studies investigating the association between TP53 Arg72Pro polymorphism and bladder cancer risk reported controversial results. To quantify the strength of association between TP53 Arg72Pro polymorphism and bladder cancer risk, we performed this meta-analysis. We searched PubMed, Embase and Wangfang databases for studies relating the association between TP53 Arg72Pro polymorphism and bladder cancer risk. We used the pooled odds ratios (ORs) with their 95 % confidence intervals (95 % CIs) to assess the association. Finally, data were available from a total of 16 case–control studies including a total of 5, 545 subjects (2,345 cases and 3,200 controls). Meta-analysis of all 16 studies showed TP53 Arg72Pro polymorphism was not associated with bladder cancer risk (All P values were more than 0.10). Subgroup analyses by ethnicity showed that TP53 Arg72Pro polymorphism contributed to bladder cancer risk in East Asians in three genetic models (For Pro vs. Arg, Fixed-effects OR 1.18, 95 % CI 1.05–1.32; For ProPro vs. ArgArg, Fixed-effects OR 1.40, 95 % CI 1.11–1.77; For ProPro vs. ArgPro/ArgArg, Fixed-effects OR 1.32, 95 % CI 1.07–1.62). However, there was no significant association in Caucasians and the others (All P values were more than 0.05). Heterogeneity analyses suggested ethnicity was the major sources of heterogeneity. Thus, meta-analyses of available data suggest the Pro variant of TP53 Arg72Pro contributes to bladder cancer risk in East Asians. Besides, TP53 Arg72Pro polymorphism may have race-specific effects on bladder cancer risk and further studies are needed to elucidate this possible effect.     

P53 Codon 72多态性、P53表达与宫颈癌放疗敏感性相关性的研究

目的：研究P53 Codon 72多态性、P53的表达与宫颈癌放疗敏感性的相关性。方法：Ib2期宫颈癌患者274例,术前192Ir腔内后装4次,A点放疗剂量2400cGy,一周2次,共2周。治疗后14d进行广泛性子宫切除。据术后病理放疗反应HE染色结果分为放疗敏感与放射抗拒两组。免疫组化sP法检测P53蛋白在治疗前宫颈癌组织中的表达,分析放疗敏感与放射抗拒两组P53蛋白表达差异有无显著性意义;采用PCR后测序的方法检测治疗前P53第72密码子的基因型频率多态性（P53 Codon 72）。分析放疗敏感与放射抗拒两组中各P53 Codon 72基因型的差异有无显著性意义。结果：放疗抗拒组与放疗敏感组相比。P53高表达的比例显著高于P53低表达的比例（P=O．00081）。P53 Codon 72多态性分析,Pro／Pro与Arg／Arg、Pro／Pro与Arg／Pro在放疗敏感组与放疗抗拒组的分布差异显著（P值分别为P=0．009和P=0．032）;Arg／Arg与Arg／Pro,在放疗敏感组与放疗抗拒组的分布无显著差异（P=O．503）。结论：P53Codon72多态性和P53蛋白与宫颈癌放疗敏感性有相关性,可以作为早期宫颈癌放疗敏感性的预测指标。     

p53 codon 72 polymorphism is associated with susceptibility to hepatocellular carcinoma in the Turkish population: a case–control study

The tumor suppressor p53 gene plays a crucial role in preventing carcinogenesis through its ability to induce cell cycle arrest and apoptosis following DNA damage and oncogene activation. A guanine (G)/cytosine (C) common single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) at second position of codon 72 in exon 4 of p53 gene determines a arginine (Arg) to proline (Pro) (Arg72Pro) aminoacidic substitution within the proline-rich domain of p53 protein. Arg72 and Pro72 allele are different from a biochemical and biological point of view and many reports suggest that they can modulate individual cancer susceptibility. To determine the association of the p53 Arg72Pro polymorphism with the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development in a Turkish population, a hospital-based case–control study was designed consisting of 119 subjects with HCC and 119 cancer-free control subjects matched for age, gender, smoking and alcohol status. The genotype frequency of the p53 Arg72Pro polymorphism was determined by using a polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) assay. Our data shows that the Pro/Pro genotype of the p53 Arg72Pro polymorphism is associated with increased risk of HCC development in this Turkish population (OR = 3.20, 95% CI: 1.24–8.22, P = 0.02). Furthermore, according to stratified analysis, a significant association was observed between the homozygote Pro/Pro genotype and HCC risk in the subgroups of male gender (OR = 3.01, 95% CI: 1.14–7.97, P = 0.03) and patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related HCC (OR = 4.04, 95% CI: 1.46–11.15, P = 0.007). Because our results suggest for the first time that the Pro/Pro homozygote of p53 Arg72Pro polymorphism may be a genetic susceptibility factor for HCC (especially in the male gender and HBV-infected patients) in the Turkish population, further independent studies are required to validate our findings in a larger series, as well as in patients of different ethnic origins.