Prevalence of codon 72 P53 polymorphism in Brazilian women with cervix cancer

The p53 codon 72 polymorphism seems to be associated with HPV-carcinogenesis, although controversial data have been reported. A series of Brazilian women with cervix carcinomas were analyzed. Ninety-nine (67 percent) of 148 women were found to be homozygous (arg/arg) for the arginine polymorphism, and 49 (33 percent) were heterozygous (arg/pro). This polymorphism may be an important determinant of the risk for cervix cancer, but does not seem to be sufficient for carcinogenesis.