In subgroups of astrocytic neoplasms, including glioblastoma (GBM), mutations of the p53 tumour suppressor gene lead to loss of growth-suppressive properties. A p53-related gene termed p73 has recently been identified; its gene product shows structural and functional similarities to p53. After being mapped to chromosome region 1p36, p73 was proposed to act as a tumour suppressor gene, as this region is frequently deleted in a variety of human cancers, including astrocytic tumours. To determine whether p73 is involved in astrocytoma/GBM development, we analysed 10 pilocytic astrocytomas, 15 WHO grade II astrocytomas, 15 WHO grade III anaplastic astrocytomas, and 20 GBM for p73 gene alterations. In parallel, we used six polymorphic markers to determine the allelic status of region 1p36 in this tumour series. Although loss of heterozygosity was evidenced in 12 of 60 cases (20% of samples), PCR-SSCP and direct sequencing failed to detect any gene mutation in the entire coding region and intronic sequences of p73. Eight tumours displayed five distinct polymorphic nucleotide changes, also present in the corresponding normal DNA. These variations consisted of T↷C variation, with no change in Thr173; C↷T transition, with no change in His197; exon 9 simultaneous double change C↷T and T↷C, with no variations in Ala336 and His349, respectively, and C↷T change at exon 9/-24 position of intron 8. These results suggest that, in astrocytic gliomas, p73 may not play a major role as a tumour suppressor, but the relatively high incidence of LOH confirms the presence at 1p36 of an as yet unidentified gene of this category, with a key function in astrocytoma/GBM progression.

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