OBJECTIVETo explore the feasibility of detecting p53 gene mutation in exfoliative esophageal cells, and compare gene mutation between precancerous lesions and normal esophageal exfoliative cells and correlate p53 gene mutation with esophageal carcinogenesis.

METHODSForty-eight samples (24 normal squamous epithelia and 24 severe squamous dysplasia) were obtained by balloon cytologic technique from a high incidence area, Yanting county, Sichuan Province, China in 1982. p53 gene mutations in exons 5 and 7 were analyzed by PCR-SSCP.

RESULTSp53 genes were detected in all samples. Five samples with p53 mutation were detected in exon 7 and no mutation was detected in exon 5 in 24 severe dysplasia samples. Three of the 5 samples with mutation in exon 7 developed esophageal cancer in 1992, 1994 and 1996 respectively. No p53 gene mutation was detected in exon 5 and 7 in normal exfoliative samples.

CONCLUSIONp53 mutation may have occurred in the precancerous lesions which contributes in the initiation of human esophageal carcinogenesis.