Benzo [a] pyrene-induced murine skin tumors exhibit frequent and characteristic G to T mutations in the p53 gene.

B Ruggeri, M DiRado, SY Zhang… - Proceedings of the …, 1993 - National Acad Sciences
B Ruggeri, M DiRado, SY Zhang, B Bauer, T Goodrow, AJ Klein-Szanto
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 1993National Acad Sciences
Human tobacco-related cancers exhibit a high frequency of G to T transversions in the
mutation hot spot region of the p53 tumor suppressor gene, possibly the result of specific
mutagens in tobacco smoke, most notably benzo [a] pyrene (B [a] P). No in vivo animal
model of B [a] P-induced tumorigenesis has been used, however, to substantiate these
molecular epidemiological data experimentally. Direct DNA sequence analysis of the hot
spot region (exons 5-8 inclusive) of murine p53 was performed in 20 skin tumors induced by …
Human tobacco-related cancers exhibit a high frequency of G to T transversions in the mutation hot spot region of the p53 tumor suppressor gene, possibly the result of specific mutagens in tobacco smoke, most notably benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P). No in vivo animal model of B[a]P-induced tumorigenesis has been used, however, to substantiate these molecular epidemiological data experimentally. Direct DNA sequence analysis of the hot spot region (exons 5-8 inclusive) of murine p53 was performed in 20 skin tumors induced by a complete carcinogenesis protocol with B[a]P. Sequence analyses revealed numerous heterozygous missense mutations in carcinomas, specifically in exons 7 and 8 of the p53 gene, and targeting exclusively guanine residues. Moreover, 70% (5/7) of the mutations characterized were G to T transversions. In contrast, direct DNA sequence analysis of 36 skin tumors induced by 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) in either a complete carcinogenesis protocol or in a two-stage carcinogenesis protocol revealed a 30% frequency of heterozygous p53 mutations, with the majority of mutations found in carcinomas, but only a single G to T transversion (1/8). Thus, while mutation frequencies are similar, the pattern and type of p53 mutations in B[a]P-induced skin tumors differs significantly from the mutation spectra in DMBA-induced squamous neoplasias. These in vivo findings in B[a]P-induced tumors lend support to in vitro and molecular epidemiological evidence, suggesting that the p53 tumor suppressor gene may be a selective target of metabolically activated B[a]P species etiologically associated with human tobacco-related cancers.
National Acad Sciences