Mutation of P53 Gene in Breast Cancer Patients in Nineveh Province

Abstract

p53, a gene that encodes a nuclear phosphoprotein with anticancer properties, is one of the most researched genes. Mutations in this gene typically occur in its most conserved regions, and these mutations can impair the protein's ability to regulate cell growth. Although p53 mutations have been identified in a small percentage of primary breast carcinomas, their overall prevalence remains unknown. According to existing evidence, the risk of developing breast cancer has been linked to genetic and socioeconomic factors. Patterns of p53 mutations in breast cancer have been found to vary by geographic region, possibly influenced by factors such as race and environment. Tissue samples were collected from 63 female breast cancer patients at the Oncology and Nuclear Medicine Hospital in Mosul City, Nineveh Governorate. A questionnaire was also conducted with patients who tested positive a few months after their diagnosis. Data on potential and established risk factors for breast cancer were analyzed, including lifetime alcohol consumption, menstruation and childbirth history, hormonal use, adult body size, past medical history, and family history of breast cancer.DNA was extracted from the tissue samples, and the PCR technique was used to determine whether a mutation in the p53 gene was present, using specific primers. Sequencing and histological examination techniques were then performed on the samples. Fifteen percent of these mutations showed more than one alteration, and p53 overexpression was observed.Of the tumor samples we sequenced, 30 (48%) also exhibited mutations in the p53 gene. We identified two significant changes in exon 4 of p53, and our population-centered sample of breast cancer patients revealed an association between the p53 gene and the prevalence of p53 mutations in tumor tissues. Our findings led us to conclude that the ratio of breast cancer to population size may decrease after accounting for factors such as endocrine status, alcohol use, drug use, and lifestyle changes.