RESUMEN
PURPOSE: This study was undertaken to analyze whether the p53 codon 72 single nucleotide polymorphism might be correlated with the risk and/or the prognosis of cervical cancer in Korean women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Peripheral blood samples derived from patients with cervical squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) (n=68), cervical adenocarcinoma (n=37), cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) III (n=98) and normal controls (n=98) were examined. Germline genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood leukocytes and examined by PCR amplification of the specific alleles assay described by Storey et al.5 Statistical analysis was performed using the Chi-Square test or the Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The proportions of individuals who were homozygous for the proline allele, and heterozygous for the two allele, homozygous for arginine allele in each group were 15%, 47%, 38% in the SCC group; 6%, 7%, 24% in the adenocarcinoma group; 7%, 33%, 60% in the CIN III group; and 11%, 38%, 51% in the control group. No significant difference was found between the three groups (p>0.05). However there was a significant difference in the adenocarcinoma group (p<0.05). Arg/Arg homozygote reduced the risk of adenocarcinoma. No significant difference existed in 5-year survival rates in the three groups (p=0.22 in SCC, p=0.91 in adenocarcinoma). CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that Arg/Arg homozygocity of the p53 codon 72 would be a protective factor against the development of cervical adenocarcinoma.