Association between p53 gene mutations and tobacco and alcohol exposure in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

OBJECTIVES

To analyze the relationship between p53 gene mutations, tobacco smoke, and alcohol consumption in patients with laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

DESIGN

We analyzed p53 gene mutations in exons 5 through 8 by polymerase chain reaction-single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis in a cohort of 84 patients with laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

SETTING

University hospital.

RESULTS

p53 gene mutations were detected in 24 (28.6%) cases (95% confidence interval, 19.3%-39.5%), and the GC to TA transversion (33%) was the most common type of mutation (95% confidence interval, 15.6%-55.3%). Most mutations mapped to the p53 DNA-binding domain, which is necessary for the physiological activity of p53 as a tumor suppressor. A statistically significant association was found between p53 mutations and exposure to tobacco smoke (P=.001), which was the only variable significantly associated with p53 mutations in a multivariate model. The association with alcohol consumption was only at a borderline level of significance (P=.065).

CONCLUSION

Our data document that a smoking habit is the only independent variable associated with an increased risk of p53 mutations in the laryngeal mucosa.