p53 gene mutation is not directly related to tumoricidal effects of preoperative radiochemohyperthermia therapy for rectal cancers

Background Several studies have recently demonstrated that apoptosis of cancer cells is triggered by diverse adjuvant cancer therapies and the induction of apoptosis correlates with the sensitivity of the primary tumor to such therapies. Methods We investigated the factors modulating adjuvant cancer therapies by examining p53 gene mutations and chromosome 17p allelic losses in 15 rectal cancers treated by a preoperative combined therapy consisting of radiation, intraluminal hyperthermia and 5‐fluorouracil suppositories. Results The point mutations were detected in 7 of 15 (46.7%) tumors by single‐stranded conformational polymorphism and direct sequencing. Allelic losses at chromosome 17p were also detected in 7 of 15 (46.7%) tumors by dinucleotide‐repeat polymorphisms. There was no correlation between p53 gene abnormalities and the preoperative tumoricidal effect of the therapy. Conclusions We conclude that p53 gene abnormalities do not directly increase resistance to the combined adjuvant therapy. © 1996 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.