To evaluate whether the presence of p53 mutations was related to the in vivo expression of p21(CIP1/WAF1) mRNA in sarcomas we measured the p21(CIP1/WAF1) mRNA levels for a group of 71 primary bone and soft tissue tumours with known p53 status.
Taken together, p53 abnormalities were found in approximately 65% of the osteosarcomas, malignant fibrous histiocytomas, and leiomyosarcomas examined and in 30% of the other soft tissue tumors.
The p53 tumor suppressor gene is a possible candidate underlying the syndrome because (a) mutations in the p53 gene are ubiquitous in human cancer, including colon carcinoma and gliomas, and (b) somatic or germ line mutations of the p53 tumor suppressor gene cause the Li-Fraumeni syndrome, which is characterized by the association of breast and soft tissue tumors.