RESUMEN
Nowadays, there are a lot of evidence that mutation of the p53 tumor suppressor gene is one of the most common genetic abnormalities in neoplastic progression. In this study, we analyzed 20 specimens of oral tumors (squamous cell carcinoma 14 cases, ameloblastoma 3 cases, adenoid cystic carcinoma 2 cases, malignant schwannoma 1 case) using polymerase chain reaction and direct sequencing which used an automated DNA sequencer and software for detection of mutations. Polymerase chain reactions were performed with 4 sets of primers encompassing exon 5, 6, 7, 8, and direct sequencing method was employed. The results were as followings. 1. We detected 10 piont mutations out of 20 specimens (50%). 2. The genetic alterations included 7 mis-sense mutations resulting in single amino acid subtitutions, 2 silent mutations, 1 non-sense mutations encoding a stop codon. 3. Mutations were mostly in exon 7(7 out of 10 mutations, 70%) and involved codons 225, 234, 235, 236, 238, 247. 4. Therse were 4 cases of T-->A transversion, 2 cases of C-->A transversion, A-->G transition, 1 case of C-->G, T-->G transversion respectively. 5. We could find out point mutations more conveniently using PCR-Automated Direct Sequencing method.