ISMJ

Background: Gastric cancer is one of the most important diseases and after lung cancer, is the second cause of cancer death worldwide. Genetic factors including oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes are always contributed in progression of this cancer. The P53 tumor suppressor gene has a broad role in genomic stability and DNA repair. The aim of this study was to determine the P53 gene mutations in gastric cancer specimens in Chaharmahal Va Bakhtiari Province. Methods: In this descriptive-lab based study, we investigated the promoter, exons 2-4 and 9-11 of P53 gene mutations in 38 paraffin embedded gastric cancer specimens. DNA was extracted following the standard phenol chloroform protocol. The P53 gene mutations were determined using PCR-SSCP procedure. Results: Our study revealed no P53 gene mutation in promoter and exons 2-4 and 9-11 in the gastric cancer subjects studied. Conclusion: While P53 gene mutations have been reported as the most frequent genetic alterations and are found in about 50% of the human malignancies, no mutation was detected in this study. The reason may be due to small sample size or mutations on other genes or epigenetic factors.