P53 mutations in myelodysplastic syndromes.

Point mutations in the p53 tumor-suppressor gene are the most frequently identified genetic alterations in human malignancies. In order to evaluate the role of p53 mutations in the multistep process of leukemogenesis we studied 61 patients with myelodysplastic syndromes using single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis of polymerase chain reaction products as well as direct sequencing. Mutant alleles were observed in 1/14 refractory anemia with excess of blasts (RAEB) and 2/5 RAEB in transformation