Absence of p53 Mutations in Squamous Carcinomas of the Tongue in Nonsmoking and Nondrinking Patients Younger Than 40 Years

Abstract

Our results suggest that p53 gene mutations are less frequent in squamous carcinomas occurring in nonsmoking young patients who do not drink alcohol than in young smokers or in the general population. Paucity of p53 mutations may be explained by the absence of exposure to tobacco smoke or alcohol. These data leave unanswered the question of the molecular mechanism responsible for oral carcinogenesis in this group of patients and suggest that this group may be a suitable population in which to study genetic susceptibility to aerodigestive carcinoma isolated from the confounding factors of tobacco and alcohol exposure.