Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 10, 2026
Growth-based Determination and Biochemical Confirmation of Genetic Requirements for Protein Degradation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Published on: February 16, 2015
Detection of P53 abnormalities in non-small cell lung cancer by yeast functional assay
W Niklinska1, L Chyczewski, J Laudanski
1Department of Histology and Embryology, Medical Academy, Białystok, Poland.
Abstract:
We assessed the status of P53 in 32 surgically treated non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC) by using yeast functional assay. For functional assay, total RNA extracted from fresh-frozen specimens was reverse transcribed and P53 cDNAs were PCR-amplified using Pfu DNA polymerase (Stratagene). The transcriptional competence of the P53 cDNA was then tested in a yeast reporter strain. 20 of the 32 (69%) NSCLC patients contained mutant P53 in the yeast functional assay with the higher frequency in squamous cell carcinoma (14/17, 82%) than in adenocarcinoma (5/10, 50%) and large cell carcinoma (3/5, 60%) (p<0.01, chi2 test). No significant difference was observed with respect to the TNM. Preliminary survival analysis showed that patients scoring positive for the yeast test had shorter disease-free survival (median = 10 months) than those that scored negative (median > 21 months). Our results suggest that yeast functional assay is not only an improved method to examine the status of P53, but might hopefully improve understanding of the role of mutant P53 in the clinical evaluation of NSCLC.
Insights
A yeast functional assay detected mutant P53 in 69% of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. Mutant P53 was linked to shorter disease-free survival in NSCLC, suggesting a role in clinical evaluation.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Cancer Research
Background:
- The tumor suppressor gene P53 plays a critical role in preventing cancer.
- Mutations in P53 are common in various cancers, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
- Accurate assessment of P53 status is crucial for understanding cancer progression and patient outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the utility of a yeast functional assay for assessing P53 status in NSCLC.
- To investigate the frequency of mutant P53 in different NSCLC subtypes.
- To explore the correlation between P53 status and disease-free survival in NSCLC patients.
Main Methods:
- Surgically treated NSCLC specimens (n=32) were analyzed using a yeast functional assay.
- Total RNA was extracted, reverse transcribed, and P53 cDNAs were PCR-amplified.
- Transcriptional competence of P53 cDNA was tested in a yeast reporter strain.
Main Results:
- Mutant P53 was detected in 69% (20/32) of NSCLC patients.
- Higher frequency of mutant P53 was observed in squamous cell carcinoma (82%) compared to adenocarcinoma (50%) and large cell carcinoma (60%).
- Patients with mutant P53 showed significantly shorter disease-free survival (median 10 months) than those with wild-type P53 (median >21 months).
Conclusions:
- The yeast functional assay is an effective method for detecting P53 mutations in NSCLC.
- Mutant P53 is prevalent in NSCLC and associated with poorer prognosis.
- This assay may enhance the clinical evaluation of NSCLC by providing insights into the role of mutant P53.
