Previous studies have suggested that certain genetic polymorphisms, specifically the Xeroderma pigmentosum group D (XPD) gene codon 751 and the X-ray repair cross-complementing group 1 (XRCC1) gene codon 399 polymorphisms, were associated with an increased risk of lung cancer, and, in some studies, with a greater risk for mutations in the p53 tumor suppressor gene in lung tumors.
In order to determine whether genetic polymorphisms affecting DNA repair capacity modulate p53 mutations in lung tumors from never-smokers, we compared p53 mutations with genotypes of XPD 312, XPD 751, and XRCC1 399 in lung tumors from 43 lifetime never-smokers. p53 mutations were identified in 10 (23%) cases and consisted mostly of G/C to A/T transitions.
Lung tumors from 204 smokers with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) were analyzed for mutations in exons 5-8 of the p53 gene and genotypes of XPD and XRCC1. p53 mutations were found in 20% (40/204) of the patients.