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Updated: Aug 19, 2026

Cell Population Analyses During Skin Carcinogenesis
Published on: August 21, 2013
Characterization of p53 gene mutations in basal-cell carcinomas: comparison between sun-exposed and less-exposed skin
Y Matsumura1, C Nishigori, T Yagi
1Department of Radiation Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Kyoto University, Japan.
Abstract:
Mutations in the p53 gene in 32 basal-cell carcinomas (BCC) developed in Japanese patients were identified by the polymerase chain reaction and single-strand-conformation polymorphism analysis, followed by sequencing the DNA. Among 16 BCC developed in continuously sun-exposed areas, 6 tumors showed 7 base substitutions, most of which were G:C to A:T transitions, mainly at the dipyrimidine sites. Seven out of 16 BCC developed in less-exposed areas showed 8 base substitutions, but the majority (75.0%) of them were transversions. These results suggest that the mutation in the p53 gene plays a significant role in the tumorigenesis of BCC developed in less-exposed areas as well as those in sun-exposed areas in Japanese patients. There must be therefore causative factors other than UV irradiation for BCC in less-exposed areas.
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