p53 mutations in lung tumours: relationship to gender and lung DNA adduct levels

Human lung cancer exhibits a high frequency of transversion mutations at G:C base pairs of the p53 gene, possibly the result of DNA damage by cigarette smoke constituents, most notably benzo[a]pyrene. We have investigated gender differences in the p53 mutational spectrum and levels of hydrophobic DNA adducts. Tumour tissue was obtained from 115 non-small cell lung cancer tumours and examined for mutational alterations in the p53 gene (exons 4-9) using PCR and single-strand conformational polymorphism analysis. We have previously examined exons 5-8 in lung cancer. Sequence analysis of exons 4 and 9 revealed that almost 20% of the mutations were located in exons 4 and 9. The levels of hydrophobic DNA adducts in non-tumorous lung tissue of 55 of the patients were analyzed by the 32P-postlabelling assay. There were both a higher frequency of G:C-->T:A mutations and a higher average hydrophobic DNA adduct level in females than in male patients, even though the level of exposure to carcinogens from cigarette smoking was lower among the females than among the males. Frameshift mutations were more common in women than in men (30 versus 15%). These preliminary findings lend support to epidemiological evidence that women may be at greater risk than men of contracting tobacco-induced lung cancer.