P53 Arg72Pro polymorphism in gastric cancer patients.

INTRODUCTION: Polymorphism in codon 72, exon 4 of p53 may alter apoptosis and cancer progression. PATIENTS AND METHODS: P53 Arg72Pro genotype was assessed by PCR from 84 gastric cancer patients and 185 controls. The control group was comparable in sex, race, age, smoking, and alcohol intake to the cancer group. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: There was no difference among the frequency of the alleles or genotypes between the groups. P53 Pro/Pro was associated to a lower risk of metastatic disease (p = 0.02) but not to lymph nodes metastasis or worst prognosis. Arg/Arg or Arg/Pro genotype may be associated to metastatic disease.