Common polymorphisms in TP53 and MDM2 and the relationship to TP53 mutations and clinical outcomes in women with ovarian and peritoneal carcinomas.

The importance of somatic TP53 mutations and germline TP53 codon 72 genotype in the survival of women with epithelial ovarian cancer is controversial. Recent data suggest that a promoter polymorphism in the MDM2 gene may influence age of cancer onset in a gender-specific fashion. We sought to determine the relationship between somatic TP53 mutations, germline genotypes at TP53 codon 72 and MDM2 SNP309, and overall survival and response to chemotherapy in a large series of patients with ovarian and peritoneal carcinomas.

Common polymorphism in interleukin 6 influences survival of women with ovarian and peritoneal carcinoma.

Objectives: The IL6 -174 promoter polymorphism impacts serum cytokine levels through transcriptional regulation. The objective of our study was to determine if -174 IL6 genotype influences survival in ovarian cancer.

Methods: The IL6 -174 polymorphism was assessed by direct DNA sequencing in lymphocyte DNA from 160 women with invasive ovarian, or peritoneal cancers.

Tumor-specific p53 sequences in blood and peritoneal fluid of women with epithelial ovarian cancer.

Objective: Free tumor DNA in body fluids may be an important biomarker. We tested whether tumor-specific mutated p53 DNA can be detected in blood and peritoneal fluid from women with epithelial ovarian cancer.

Study Design: Sequencing of tumor DNA identified somatic p53 mutations.