ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the association between p53 codon 72 polymorphism (R72P) and the risk of colorectal liver metastases.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The p53 R72P genotype was identified by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method in 78 consecutive colorectal cancer patients with liver metastases and 214 age- and sex-matched cases with nonmetastatic colorectal cancer.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The R allele of the p53 R72P polymorphism was more frequently found in metastatic cases than in nonmetastatic cases (P=0.075). Carriers of the 72R allele had a 2.25-fold (95% CI (confidence interval)=1.05 to approximately 4.83) increased risk of liver metastases. On the stratification analysis, 72R-carrying genotype conferred a 3.46-fold (95% CI=1.02 to approximately 11.72) and a 1.05-fold (95% CI=0.36 to approximately 3.08) increased risk of liver metastases for p53 overexpression-positive and negative colorectal cancers, respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>These results demonstrate for the first time that the 72R allele of the p53 polymorphism has an increased risk for liver metastases in colorectal cancers positive for p53 overexpression.</p>