Mutations in p53 are the most common genetic abnormality yet found in human cancers. p53 mutations vary among tumor types, ranging from 0-60% in major cancers. The frequency of p53 mutations in breast cancer averages around 25%. The incidence rate and the type of mutations at specific codons seem to be influenced by geographical location as well as racial and ethnic specificities. Women of the Parsi ethnic group living mostly in defined geographical areas around metropolitan Bombay are reported to have a markedly high incidence of breast cancer. In the present work, the p53 gene alterations in the Parsis were investigated using SSCP analysis. The results confirm an earlier observation that over 60% of the Parsi breast tumors harbour p53 alterations. This figure is higher than that observed in other communities. The relevance of the finding in the light of the high breast cancer incidence in the Parsis is discussed.

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