249 TP53 mutation has high prevalence and is correlated with larger and poorly differentiated HCC in Brazilian patients.

BACKGROUND: Ser-249 TP53 mutation (249(Ser)) is a molecular evidence for aflatoxin-related carcinogenesis in Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) and it is frequent in some African and Asian regions, but it is unusual in Western countries. HBV has been claimed to add a synergic effect on genesis of this particular mutation with aflatoxin. The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency of 249(Ser) mutation in HCC from patients in Brazil.
METHODS: We studied 74 HCC formalin fixed paraffin blocks samples of patients whom underwent surgical resection in Brazil. 249(Ser) mutation was analyzed by RFLP and DNA sequencing. HBV DNA presence was determined by Real-Time PCR.
RESULTS: 249(Ser) mutation was found in 21/74 (28%) samples while HBV DNA was detected in 13/74 (16%). 249Ser mutation was detected in 21/74 samples by RFLP assay, of which 14 were confirmed by 249(Ser) mutant-specific PCR, and 12 by nucleic acid sequencing. All HCC cases with p53-249ser mutation displayed also wild-type p53 sequences. Poorly differentiated HCC was more likely to have 249(Ser) mutation (OR = 2.415, 95% CI = 1.001 - 5.824, p = 0.05). The mean size of 249(Ser) HCC tumor was 9.4 cm versus 5.5 cm on wild type HCC (p = 0.012). HBV DNA detection was not related to 249(Ser) mutation.
CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that 249(Ser) mutation is a HCC important factor of carcinogenesis in Brazil and it is associated to large and poorly differentiated tumors.

Background

Many factors may lead to pre-malignant conditions related to the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), including Hepatitis B and C virus infection (HBV, HCV), alcohol intake and ingestion of food product with high concentration of mycotoxins such as Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), which can be found in some developing countries [1]. Several of these factors have been shown capable of altering the expression of genes responsible for cell growth regulation [2,3].

It has been widely acknowledged that HCC development is strongly related to environment and socio-economic factors [4], leading to major differences not only in the incidence but also in molecular pathways of liver carcinogenesis in different geographic regions. Accordingly, mutations at TP53 gene are frequent in HCC patients from Africa and China, where this kind of tumor is highly incident, in sharp contrast to what has been reported from Europe and North America [5]. Further evidences for a direct carcinogenic effect of HBV and AFB1 is the finding which in countries where high rates of both ones are present and, furthermore, HBV infection is contracted in the early years of life, a higher frequency of HCC in non-cirrhotic liver is observed. On the other hand, in developed countries, HCC seems to be more related to HCV infection and to ethanol intake[6,7,5].

Rather than occurring at random, mutations along TP53 in HCC happen in "hot-spots", the most common of them is at codon 249 in exon 7, responsible for almost 40% of TP53 mutations reported in this neoplasm (IARC, 2004). It is referred as 249Ser, because of a conversion of G (guanine) into T (thymine) resulting in Arginine → Serine mutation in p53 protein. This event was first reported in 1991 simultaneously by two different research groups [8,9], independently demonstrating a strong relation of this mutation to a dietary exposure of AFB1. Latter it was described the geographical distribution of this specific mutation and its relation to AFB1 exposure [10].

Evidence from several other laboratories has further confirmed the strict relation between AFB1 and 249Ser mutation of TP53: Jackson and co-workers [11] found this mutation in the serum of 46.7% HCC patients in Qidong (China). In a similar study from Gambia[12], this mutation was found in 36% of HCC patients sera, in 15% cirrhotic patients and in 6% of the control group.

Although the pathway on which aflatoxin induces this specific mutation, it is not totally elucidated, it is known that AFB1 itself is not the carcinogenic substance, but its second metabolite [13]. After being ingested along with the food, AFB1 is metabolized by CYP450 complex enzymes resulting on formation of AFB1-exo-8,9-epoxide. This specific metabolite has the capacity to make a covalent binding to DNA nucleotides leading adducts, the main of which resulting from the interaction between the epoxide and guanine: AFB1-N7-Gua [14]. It has been demonstrated that AFB1 can interact with 20% of the bases between exon 5 and exon 8 of TP53 – 85% of them were guanines [15]. Besides this hot-spot, Denissenko [16] detected adducts formation in other codons of exon 7 and 8 of TP53.

Studies indicate that the main risk for the adducts formation is the incapacity of metabolism phase 2 enzymes, especially isoforms of Glutatione S-Transferase on clearing AFB1-exo-8,9-epoxide [17].

The carcinogenic process derived from HBV infection has been associated to the expression of HBx oncoprotein [18]. Kim et al [19] in 1991, had already shown the role of HBx in neoplastic transformation in transgenic mice and the expression of this viral oncoprotein has been observed in more than half of HBV related HCC [20]. Relationship between HBV infection and p53 function is still controversial. Hosono and co-workers [21] did not find any association. Recently it was concluded that HBV transfection may lead to an abnormal expression of p53 in cell culture [22]. Studies with patient exposed to AFB1 and infected with HBV suggest a toxin-virus interaction where HBV is responsible to selectivity of 249Ser mutation [23].

The aim of this study was to assess the frequency of TP53 249Ser mutation in HCC samples from patients in Brazil as well as its eventual relation to the presence of HBV DNA in hepatocytes by Real-Time PCR.

Methods

Patients

Formalin fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) blocks diagnosed as HCC from 80 patients from Division of Surgical Pathology at the Hospital das Clínicas of University of São Paulo School of Medicine (51 samples) and from Oswaldo Cruz German Hospital (29 samples) were selected from patients who underwent liver resection or liver transplantation from 1998 to 2005. Six patients were excluded because DNA was not amplified by PCR, therefore analysis included 74 patients. The characteristics of patients are described in table 1.

Table 1

Patients Characteristics

Characteristic	Number	(%)
Gender
Male	53	71.6
Female	21	28.4
Age, years	54.04 ± 17,31	7 – 802
Viral etiology
HBV	13	16
HCV	27	48.23
HBV + HCV	3	5.43
No virological data	12	21.4
Cirrhosis	49	66.2
Tumor size	6.58 + 5.91	0.5 – 242
Tumor differentiation grade
G1	1	1.4
G2	30	40.5
G3	34	45.9
G4	9	12.2
Geographical area
North	1	2.3
Northeast	6	13.9
Southeast	35	81.3
Outside Brazil	1	2.3

1Mean ± SD; 2Range; 3 Sample size: 56

Additionally, 17 FFPE blocks of normal livers from patients who died from unrelated diseases necropsied at the Department of Pathology of University of São Paulo School of Medicine served as control group.

This study was approved by the Investigational Review Board of the University of Sao Paulo School of Medicine.

DNA extraction

In order to avoid inter sample contamination, it was used a different sterile blade for each paraffin block. Samples were macro dissected, selecting the most preserved areas of HCC. The area of interest was cut at 10 micra thick slices, which were deparaffinized using Xylene and Ethanol. Paraffin free samples were digested with a 20 mg/ml Proteinase K solution and lysis buffer. DNA was extracted by DNeasy® Tissue Mini-Kit (Qiagen, Hilden, Germany), according to the manufacturer's instructions and eluted in 150 μl of Elution Buffer. The concentration and the integrity of the DNA were analyzed by 1.5% agarose gel electrophoresis, using Low Mass DNA Ladder (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, California) as marker.

DNA Amplification

The selected primers for this study flank TP53 exon 7 and were designed according to Lehman [24] in order to amplify the whole sequence of the target exon. Five μl of the eluted DNA was used as template for the PCR at a final concentration of 100 nM of each primer (forward and reverse); 0.1 mM of each dNTP; 1.5 mM of MgCl2; 1× reaction Buffer and MilliQ water completing the reaction to a final volume of 50 μl. No-template-controls were used for each PCR set to check for contamination.

PCR products were quantified using Low Mass Ladder (Invitrogen Carlsbad, California).

For DNA amplification with mutant specific primer, an additional reverse primer (5'tgt gat gat ggt gag gat ggg a 3') was added to the PCR reaction described above. A wild type TP 53 control was used as negative control for TP-53 mutation.

Mutation Analysis

Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP)

Specific G to T transversion at codon 249 of exon 7 of TP53 was analyzed through RFLP. One unit of HaeIII (a 10 fold excess of enzyme) was added in 100 ng of p53 PCR product with its specific reaction buffer. The reaction was incubated at 37°C for 4 hours. Afterwards, an electrophoresis of the restricted PCR product in a 3% agarose 1,000 gel (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, USA) was performed. A 158 bp DNA fragment denoted the specific mutation.

Sequencing

In order to validate the results from RFLP, exon 7 region of the TP53 gene was directly sequenced. 30 ng of PCR product was used as template for sequencing reaction; 3.2 picomols of primer and 6 μl of Big Dye Terminator (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, USA), the reaction volume was completed with MilliQ water to a final volume of 20 μl. It was used ABI 377 automated sequencer (AppliedBiosystem, Foster City, USA).

Assessment of the presence of HBV DNA in liver tissue

A qualitative assay using Real-Time PCR was performed to detect HBV DNA in the eluted total DNA from the hepatic tissue from all cases and controls, with primers and probes from the Protein S region of the HBV genome. Both primers and probes were designed to cover all A, B, C, D, E and F HBV genotypes (primers have not been published yet). Briefly 5 μl of the DNA solution was used as template along with 1× TaqMan mastermix (Roche), 100 nM of each primer and 50 nM of a 5'FAN 3'MGB probe. It was used the 7300 Real-Time thermocycler (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, USA).

Statistical analysis

Univariate statistical analysis was performed using x2 test and Student's t-test. Upon completion of the univariate analyses, variables were select for the multivariable analysis. Any variable whose univariate test had a p-value < 0.25 was considered as a candidate for multivariate model along with all variables of known biologic importance. The 0.25 level was chosen as a screening criterion because studies have shown that using a lower level (e.g. the traditional 0.05 level) often fails to identify variables known to be important. And the populated multivariate model will control for bias and exclude those with the p level of 0.05. Therefore following the above criteria the following variables were chosen for multivariate analysis: age, sex, ethnic origin, presence of cirrhosis, tumor differentiation grade, tumor size, vascular invasion and HBV positivity by Real Time PCR. The multivariate logistic regression used a forward selection procedure and only those variables with significant p at 0.05 were included in the final model. All p values reported are for a two-sided test, and the level of significance was set at 0.05.

Results

Pathological data

From the 74 FFPE blocks in which yielded DNA amplification, 49 (66.2%) presented liver cirrhosis. The mean tumor size was 9.08 cm (0.5 – 24 cm). Grossly the tumor showed vascular invasion in (45.9%) of the samples.

Tumor grade was classified according to the Edmond-Steiner criteria, in which G1 is a well-differentiated tumor and G4 is the most undifferentiated form. Of all samples 1/74 (1.35%) case was classified G1, 30/74 (40.5%) G2, 34/74 (45.9%) G3 and 9/74 (12.2%) G4.

Clinical Data

Fifty-three were male patients (71.6%) and the average was 54.04 years. The HCV infection data was obtained from Clinical Hospital of Sao Paulo University School of Medicine electronic system and from CICAP – German Hospital Oswaldo Cruz in 56 patients whereas HBV DNA by Real-Time PCR was achieved in all 74 patients. The resulting "viral status" showed that 27/56(48.2%) were HCV infected, 13/74 (17.6%) HBV infected, 3/56 (5.4%) co-infected and 12/56(21.4%) with no viral infection.

DNA Extraction and PCR Amplification

DNA extraction was performed as described above. The mean DNA concentration extracted was 40 ng/ml. Even though the extraction was successfully done in all samples, 6 of them was not observed PCR amplification and were excluded from the study. The absence of amplification in those samples may be due to an excessive degradation of the genomic DNA.

Mutation and HBV DNA Presence

249Ser mutation was found in 21/74 samples (28%) by RFLP and all samples were also submitted to sequencing (Figure 1). The presence of mutation was confirmed in 12 of 21 samples by nucleic acid sequencing (Figure 1). No mutation was detected in any of the 17 controls. To further demonstrate the presence of the TP-53 mutant form, an alternative PCR amplification with a reverse TP-53 mutant-specific primer was performed in 14 of the 21 samples available for PCR. A 155 band confirmed the presence of the mutant form. A wild type TP 53 DNA (Lane 15) was used as a wild form control (Figure 2). In all 14 samples, the intensity of mutant p53-specific band was lower than that of wild-type p53, suggesting that all tumors retained wild-type p53 or alternatively a fraction of tumor cells displayed the p53-249ser mutation.

Figure 1

A. RFLPs of PCR-amplified fragments obtained with . There are 2 genotypes represented by the gel picture, wild type (a, c and d) where a 158 bp band is absent and 249Ser (b, e and f) where the 158 pb fragment can be observed. 1B. Representative eletropherograms of TP53 sequence. Nucleotide sequence of a mutated sample on top, showing the G → T transversion (AGT) when compared with a wild type exon 7 below (AGG).

Figure 2

PCR-amplified products with mutant-specific primer for identification of mutant TP-53 allele (lower 155 bp band). Lane 15 is a wild type control.

The assessment of sensibility of Real-Time qualitative assay was done by a serial dilution of pSM2 – a plasmid containing the whole genome of HBV described by Günther [25]. The minimum amount of HBV DNA necessary for detection was 5 copies per reaction.

Using the same parameters from the standardization, it was observed HBV DNA amplification in 13/74 (16%) samples

Variables related to 249Ser

The mutation frequency according to HCC differentiation level is described in table 2. G4 tumors had a tendency to have higher frequency of 249Ser when compared to the other levels (p = 0.054, NS).

Table 2

Mutation distribution according to Edmondson & Steiner histological grade

	Histological Grade
	1	2	3	4	Total
Wild-Type 249	1	23	26	3	53
249Ser	0	7	8	6	21
Total	1	30	3	9	74

p = 0.054

Tumor size data was available for 68 samples. Mean tumor samples size presenting 249Ser was 9.4 cm, significantly larger (p = 0.015) than that found in cases without this mutation, which was 5.5 cm as described on table 3.

Table 3

Size difference between tumors according to 249Ser mutation

Codon 249	Samples	Mean Size (cm)
Wild-Type 249	49*	5.5 ± 4.9
249Ser	19*	9.4 ± 7.4

p = 0.015

* Size information available for 68 samples

As it can be seen on table 4, histological grade, and tumor size increases the odds of presenting 249Ser: OR = 2.415(1.001 – 5.824) and 1.10 (1.001 – 1.214) respectively. Male gender had a borderline result of OR = 4.9173 (0.954 – 25.345).

Table 4

Multivariable analysis of 249Ser associated factors

	Odds Ratio	95% CI	p
Grade	2.415	1.001 – 5.824	0.050
Male Gender	4.917	0.954 – 25.345	0.057
Tumor Size	1.102	1.001 – 1.214	0.047

Mean patient age with or without 249Ser was not significantly different (53.05 ± 12.35 years versus 54.41 ± 18.98 years, p = 0.3825). Mutation frequency tended to be higher in HCC from cirrhotic liver (34.7%) than non-cirrhotic (16%). However this difference was not significant (p = 0.076, NS). Mutation frequency was 3/21 (14.28%) in female and 18/53 (33.9%) in male (p = 0.076, NS).

HBV presence had a 1.150 (0.312 – 4.237) OR (p = 0.53768) suggesting no relationship between HBV DNA presence and 249Ser. Neither 249Ser nor HBV DNA presences were related to vascular invasion (p = 0.470): OR = 0.84 (0.303 – 2.326) and p = 0.611 OR = 1.010 (0.303 – 3.357).

No additional mutation was detected in any other hotspot of TP53 exon 7 codon 249.

Discussion

The 249Ser mutation was found in 28% of HCC samples included in this study, it is lower somewhat similar to our previous finding of immunohistochemistry reactivity for p53 in 35% of Brazilian HCC cases from our group [26]. At that time only immunoexpression of this protein was analyzed, not the determination of the mutation at the hotspot(s) responsible for this over expression.

The 28% rate of 249Ser TP53 point mutation found is rather high, a finding probably related to previous studies of contamination of Brazilian food with aflatoxin [27,1]. AFB1 contamination is a public health problem in Brazil. It is also important to remind that codon 249 is the responsible for 33% of TP53 mutations in HCC, but it is not the only TP53 hotspot. In a search on IARC database, it is possible to find other TP53 hotspots. It is described other 143 mutations besides 249Ser in HCC. Other common mutation takes place in codons 175, 245, 248 273, and 282. The other codons have an individual contribution to TP53 mutation of less than 2% [28]. This information can justify the difference between the frequency of the mutation found in this study and the higher frequency of over expressed p53 described previously [26].

Our results are strikingly differing to those published in European countries where, not only 249Ser, but also all TP53 hotspots do not have relevant influence in HCC carcinogenesis. Kubicka [29] showed that none of his 20 HCC samples had the 249Ser point mutation and between all cases only one had p53 over expression due to a 248 codon mutation. USA had a similar result: even though there was 5/23 cases of HCC with p53 over expression all of them were wild type for the 249 codon [30].

It was described a 45% frequency of p53 over expression on his samples – a high rate for Europeans samples – even though no codon 249 mutation was found [31].

On the other hand, in countries with high incidence of HCC, the 249Ser point mutation has an important role in the liver carcinogenesis. In Senegal this kind of mutation can be detected in 67% of HCC patient [32]. In regions like Gambia (Africa) and Qidong (China) this mutation frequency can reach up to 50%. The mutation rate found in our study is much higher comparing to European countries yet lower than in regions where aflatoxin exposure is endemic. Unfortunately, there are not many studies about 249Ser frequency in Latin-American countries. However, in Mexico it was described a 3/16 (19%) frequency of this mutation in HCC [33]. This 249Ser frequency may be related to the fact that Mexico is one of the biggest corn consumers in the world (almost 120 kg per capita per year). This fact associated with an imperfect foodstuff storage conditions and manipulation may result in a large AFB1 intake. Another fact which should be discussed is the fact that up to 2005, Mexican legislation about Aflatoxin contamination lack of rules about Aflatoxin presence in milk [34].

Although, AFB1 contamination has been controlled in Brazil, there are still cases of foods presenting AFB1 levels beyond the tolerated level, for example: 20 kinds of peanuts were interdicted during February 2005 and July 2006 by ANVISA (National Sanitary Administration Agency) [35]. The maximum AFB1 level in food allowed by ANVISA was 30 ppb up to 2002 and 20 ppb after that. FDA has always recommended an AFB1 level less than 15 ppb. European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) allows only 0.1 ppb of AFB1 in some cases and there are specific rules about food for child nutrition [36]. Moreover, residual effects of exposition to higher aflatoxin levels before 2002 will probably yield high rates of AFB-related HCC in Brazil for the next few decades.

Our data might suggest that 249Ser is related not only to poorly differentiated HCC but also to also larger tumors. It was showed that mutations among TP53 are associated with poor differentiation level [37,38]. However, in both studies there was a low 249Ser frequency and the poor differentiation was associated only to TP53 mutation and not to 249Ser itself. Moreover, neither of those studies found association between TP53 mutation and tumor size. Age and vascular invasion did not present correlation with the specific mutation. Despite not presenting statistical relationship with 249Ser, the mutation had a tendency of being more frequent in cirrhotic liver. The same can be said about gender: The mutation was observed slightly more frequently in males rather in female ones (p = 0.076).

The fact that the mutation was more frequent among larger and less differentiated tumors could suggest that 249Ser is a late event on liver carcinogenesis, which may sound, be against the hypothesis that AFB1 is a causal agent of HCC. However, there are studies that describe the selective advantages that a liver cell carrying this mutation may have. Among them it could be pointed: enhancement of cell growth [39], inhibition of wild-type p53 mediated apoptosis [40] and finally p53 249ser has great efficiency in suppressing wild-type p53 activity [41].

Interestingly, all HCC samples had low levels of mutant p53-249 ser mutation as compared to wild-type p53 DNA. Because larger and less differentiated tumors are less homogeneous it is possible that only part of tumor displayed the p53-249ser mutation, following the suggesting that 249ser is a late event on liver carcinogenesis. Alteration in p53 may be important event in the transformation of hepatocytes of regenerative nodules in a damaged organ (the "field effect") to the malignant phenotype. Also it is possible that part of non-tumor tissue with wild-type p53DNA contributed for this situation, since it was not performed micro dissection to separated only tumor cells. Nevertheless, this situation did not preclude the detection p53 249ser mutation in a significative number of tumors, suggesting a role of aflatoxin in the carcinogenesis of liver tumor in our country.

Statistical relationship between p53 249ser mutation and HBV presence in the hepatocytes was not found. This, however, may be due to the fact that only HBV DNA presence was analyzed and not its gene expression. Many studies describe that the pathway, which leads to the 249ser mutation, is related with HBx expression however it was not this project the aim. In this study HBV DNA presence was not found being related to neither cirrhosis status nor vascular invasion of the tumor.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the frequency of 249Ser found in this study was 28%, which may suggest AFB1 exposure and indicating that this mutation is an important factor of HCC carcinogenesis in Brazil. HBV DNA presence did not show to be a hazard factor to 249Ser development. However, it was observed a relationship between poorly differentiated HCC and tumor size to this specific mutation.

Even though the mutation frequency found in this study was higher than those found in low HCC incidence areas, it was still lower than countries with moderate AFB1 exposure like Mexico.

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Authors' contributions

JAN carried out the collection of the data, performed the laboratory experiments, the statistical analysis with interpretation, and drafted the manuscript. SKON contributed with the conception and design of the study, revised, acted as corresponding author and approved the final manuscript. MEN contributed with the conception, design of the study, carried out the collection of the data, the statistical analysis with interpretation, and revised the manuscript. MMTS and EPC contributed doing the laboratory experiments. DVP carried out the collection of the data. ESM, CS and VAFA supplied the samples, carried out the pathological staging, and revised the manuscript. FJC contributed with the conception and design of the study, revised, and approved the final manuscript. All authors were involved in the research presented and approved the final manuscript.

Pre-publication history

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http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2407/9/204/prepub