P53 mutations in mammary tumor cell lines and corresponding tumor tissues in the dog

Alterations in the p53 gene are frequently observed in a wide variety of human cancers. To elucidate the role of p53 in tumorigenesis of the dog, we analyzed nine mammary tumor cell lines, and the primary or metastatic tumors used for their establishment, for the presence of genomic p53 abnormalities. Possible genomic rearrangements were analyzed by Southern blotting using a canine cDNA probe. More subtle alterations were identified by single strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis for, which we partially characterized the canine p53 gene (codon 109-388 as compared to the human gene). The presence of mutations in SSCP fragments with altered mobility was confirmed by DNA sequencing. Three of the nine cell lines showed a mutated p53 gene. All were missense mutations accompanied by loss of the wild type allele. The point mutations, at codon 176 (TGC --> TTC), 236 (TAC --> AAC) and 245 (GGC --> GCC), were all located in one of the four regions that are frequently affected in human cancers. Analysis of the DNA extracted from the tumors of origin demonstrated the presence of two of these point mutations. These findings indicate the involvement of the p53 gene in the genesis of canine tumors in a way comparable to that of human tumors.