[Mutations of the p53 gene in hematologic neoplasms]

The p53 gene encodes a nuclear phosphoprotein and is now considered as a tumor suppressor gene. Mutations of the p53 gene have frequently been observed in several types of solid tumors and are believed to be implicated in the development of these tumors. Recent studies have shown that the p53 gene is altered in chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) in blast crisis. In CML, alterations of the p53 gene may play an important role in the development of blast crisis. More recently, p53 mutations have been reported in other types of hematologic neoplasms, such as acute leukemia, adult T-cell leukemia, and malignant lymphoma. These observations suggest that inactivation of the p53 gene is involved in the tumorigenesis of various types of hematologic neoplasms.