The TP53 gene encodes an important class of cell cycle and tumor-suppressing factors that play critical roles in maintaining genomic stability. The TP53 Arg72Pro (rs1042522 C>G) polymorphism has been reported to be associated with the risk of several types of adult cancers; however, its risk for pediatric cancers remains unclear. Here, we analyzed the association of the TP53 gene rs1042522 C>G polymorphism with hepatoblastoma (HB) susceptibility in a hospital-based study among Chinese children. A total of 213 HB patients and 958 healthy controls were enrolled in the study. Genotypes were determined by a TaqMan assay, and the strength of the association was assessed by the odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals generated from logistic regression models, adjusted for age, gender, and clinical stage. No significant association between the TP53 rs1042522 C>G polymorphism and HB susceptibility was detected in the main analysis or in stratification analyses of age, gender, and clinical stages. Overall, the TP53 gene rs1042522 C>G polymorphism is not associated with HB susceptibility in the Chinese population, other polymorphisms alone or in combination should be investigated to further clarify HB susceptibility.
Keywords: TP53; genetic association; hepatoblastoma; polymorphism; rs1042522 C>G.