Detection of Mutant p53 Protein in Workers Occupationally Exposed to Benzidine

• Published in: Journal of Occupational Health Vol. 49; no. 4; pp. 279 - 284
• Main Authors: Xiang, Cui‐Qin, Shen, Chun‐Lin, Wu, Zi‐Rong, Qin, Yi‐Qiu, Zhang, Yun‐Ying, Liu, Cha‐Zhen, Chen, Ji‐Gang, Zhang, Sheng‐Nian
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Australia JAPAN SOCIETY FOR OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH 01.07.2007; Oxford University Press
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Benzidine; Benzidines - toxicity; Biomarkers, Tumor - analysis; Biomarkers, Tumor - genetics; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Exfoliated urothelial cells; Exposure intensity index; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; mutant p53 protein; Mutants; Mutation; Occupational Diseases - chemically induced; Occupational Diseases - genetics; Occupational Diseases - pathology; Occupational exposure; Occupational Exposure - adverse effects; Occupational health; Papanicoloau's grading; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Proteins; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 - analysis; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 - genetics; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms - chemically induced; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms - genetics; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms - pathology; Urothelium - pathology
• ISSN: 1341-9145; 1348-9585; 1348-9585
• DOI: 10.1539/joh.49.279

To investigate the expression of mutant p53 protein in workers occupationally exposed to benzidine, we detected mutant p53 protein by immuno-PCR assay in the serum of 331 benzidine-exposed healthy workers, while we classified exfoliated urothelial cells in urine samples with Papanicoloau's grading (PG). The Papanicoloau's grading classified exfoliated urothelial cells of the subjects from grade I (normal cells) to grade III (suspicious malignant cells). The subjects were also divided into high, medium and low exposure groups according to the exposure intensity index. The results revealed that mutant p53 protein in the medium and high exposure groups were significantly higher than the in low exposure group (p<0.05), and in PG II and III were significantly higher than in the PG I (p<0.05). There was no significant differences among Papanicoloau's gradings strata in the low exposure group on the incidence and quantity of mutant p53 protein. In the medium and high exposure groups, the incidence and/or quantity of mutant p53 protein in the stratum of PG II and/or III were significantly higher than that of PG I (p<0.05). Detection of mutant p53 protein in conjunction with benzidine exposure level and Papanicoloau's gradings of exfoliated urothelial cells could provide more information to help us elevate surveillance efficiency and diagnose bladder cancer in the early period.