Background and aim: Loss of p53 function has been suggested to be a critical step in
multistage hepatocarcinogenesis. So, we aimed to investigate the frequency of P53
codon 72 gene polymorphism and its relation to plasma P53 levels in Egyptian
patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) on top of viral and nonviral etiologies.
Methods: This is a hospital-based case-control study which included 159 HCC
patients in addition to 83 healthy volunteers as controls. Patients were classified into:
63 patients with HCC complicating cirrhosis due to HCV; 55 patients with HCC
complicating cirrhosis due to HBV and 41 patients with HCC complicating cirrhosis
due to nonviral causes. Quantitative determination of plasma P53 levels was
performed by ELISA. P53 Arg 72 Pro gene polymorphism was carried out by
conventional PCR followed by restriction enzyme digestion (PCR-RFLP). Results:
There were significant increases in α.fetoprotein and plasma P53 levels in all studied
groups in relation to the control group. AA genotype and A allele were more in the
control group, PP genotype and P allele were more frequent in HCV related HCC
group & HCC with non viral causes. AP genotype and P allele were more frequent in
HBV related HCC group. P 53 plasma level showed significant increase in all groups
in relation to the control group in AA genotype, AP genotype and PP genotype. There
were significant increases in AP and PP genotype in all studied groups in comparison
to AA genotype. Plasma P53 level showed significant increase in all groups in both
allele A and allele P when compared with the control group. Also, it showed
significant increase in their levels in P allele when compared with that of A allele in
all studied groups. Conclusion: plasma p53 protein level could be considered as an
additional tumor marker to AFP to increase the diagnostic potential of AFP in HCC
patients. Therefore, P53codon 72 gene polymorphism could be used as an indicator
of the genetic susceptibility for future development of HCC in Egyptian cirrhotic
patients.