Association between p53 gene mutations and tobacco and alcohol exposure in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma

Objectives: To analyze the relationship between p53 gene mutations, tobacco smoke, and alcohol consumption in patients with laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma. Design: We analyzed p53 gene mutations in exons 5 through 8 by polymerase chain reaction-single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis in a cohort of 84 patients with laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma. Setting: University hospital. Results: p53 gene mutations were detected in 24 (28.6%) cases (95% confidence interval, 19.3%-39.5%), and the GC to TA transversion (33%) was the most common type of mutation (95% confidence interval, 15.6%-55.3%). Most mutations mapped to the p53 DNA-binding domain, which is necessary for the physiological activity of p53 as a tumor suppressor. A statistically significant association was found between p53 mutations and exposure to tobacco smoke (P=.001), which was the only variable significantly associated with p53 mutations in a multivariate model. The association with alcohol consumption was only at a borderline level of significance (P=.065). Conclusion: Our data document that a smoking habit is the only independent variable associated with an increased risk of p53 mutations in the laryngeal mucosa.