Exon 5 of the p53 gene is a target for deletions in ovarian cancer

Missense point mutations, leading to inactivation of the p53 tumor suppressor gene product, are currently the most frequent alterations in human cancer. Little, however, is known about small intragenic deletions or insertions occurring in this locus of chromosome 17. We have analyzed 56 primary ovarian tumors for the presence of such abnormalities. The analysis was based on multiplex PCR amplification of exons 1 through 11 of the p53 gene and …