Background: Infection with human papillomavirus (HPV) is an important risk factor for the development of skin cancer after renal transplantation. It has recently been suggested that degradation of the tumor suppressor gene p53 is an important mechanism for human papillomavirus-induced carcinogenesis. A common genomic polymorphism occurs at codon 72 of the p53 gene, and in vitro the codon 72Arg variant appears to be particularly susceptible to degradation.
Methods: To test the hypothesis that this polymorphism predisposes to the development of human papillomavirus-associated tumors, we studied p53 codon 72 genotype in 222 long-term survivors of renal transplantation, of whom 55 had developed at least one skin tumor.
Results: No differences in allele or genotype frequency were detected between individuals who had or had not developed skin tumors after transplantation, or any subgroup thereof.
Conclusions: The p53 codon 72Arginine allele does not confer susceptibility to the development of skin tumors after renal transplantation.