Relation between food habits and p53 mutational spectrum in gastric cancer patients

p53 tumour suppressor gene mutations were analysed in gastric cancer in relation to food habits and social class in 56 patients from a high risk region of Italy. Exons 5-8 were analysed with DGGE method on amplified DNA from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded samples. All p53 mutations were observed in patients belonging to low social class and the majority of mutations were found in intestinal type cancers. A positive association was also found with low raw vegetables, fresh, dried and preserved fruits, and ascorbic acid intake. Moreover, specific types of mutations were significantly associated with particular factors, thus suggesting the presence of specific molecular etiologic process in stomach carcinogenesis.