Study of p16 gene loss and mutation in primary transitional cell carcinomas of urinary bladder

Objective To explore the alteration of p16 gene in primary transitional cell carcinomas(TCCs) of bladder. Methods PCR and PCR SSCP methods were used to detect the loss and mutation of p16 gene in 38 specimens of primary TCCs of urinary bladder. Results The loss rate of p16 gene was 18.42% in 38 TCCs specimens and the mutation of p16 gene was not observed. Conclusion There was an apparently lower frequency of p16 loss and mutation in primary bladder cancer compared with the culture tumor counterparts. The loss of p16 gene confers a selective growth advantage during adaptation of tumor cells to culture and hence is probably important in the generation of bladder cancer cell lines. [