Spectrum of Mutation and Frequency of Allelic Deletion of the p53 Gene in Ovarian Cancer

Abstract

Like p53 mutations in other types of human cancers, those in epithelial ovarian cancers are diverse and occur frequently in exons 5-8. The predominance of transition mutations suggests that p53 mutations in ovarian cancer arise because of spontaneous errors in DNA synthesis and repair rather than the direct interaction of carcinogens with DNA. These molecular data are consistent with data from epidemiologic studies that have failed to demonstrate a convincing relationship between exposure to environmental carcinogens and the development of ovarian cancer.