ABSTRACT
The p53 protein, of the core protein group, was initially considered an oncogene but it was later noted to be included in the group of tumour-suppressive genes, the function of which seems to be focused in the control of cell growth, regulation of DNA transcription, and inhibition of certain oncogenes. A mutant protein variety has been observed with longer than normal mean life and altered function, so that it is not effective for the inhibitory control of cell growth. Mutations of that protein's gene, located in the short arm of chromosome 17, have been discovered in a large variety of tumours in humans, and in the urogenital region they have been consistently seen in both vesical and prostate tumours. The objective of the study was to confirm the need of this gene mutation, so that the vesical transitional cell tumour develops an infiltrant nature. The presence of mutations in this gene's exons 5 and 8 in infiltrant transitional cell tumours (28.5% cases) was demonstrated using as controls either surface transitional cell tumours, non-transitional tumours and healthy vesical tissue obtained together with the tumour specimen in each surgical procedure. The methods used were PCR (polymerase chain reaction) and the identification of the mutated specimen through TGGE (temperature gradient electrophoresis). The absence of mutations in the control strips together with the observation of mutations in the specimens from infiltrant tumours confirms the above hypothesis.
