The analysis of p53 tumor suppressor gene in pineal parenchymal tumors.

p53 gene mutation was examined in 9 pineal parenchymal tumors, 4 pineoblastomas and 5 pineocytomas, by the immunohistochemical and the polymerase chain reaction-mediated single strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) analyses. In each case, immunohistochemical analysis revealed no positive staining for p53 protein with either PAb1801 or DO-1 antibody and PCR-SSCP analysis revealed no abnormal migration in exons 5 to 8 of the p53 gene. These findings suggested that p53 gene mutation is rarely related with the tumorigenesis of pineal parenchymal tumors.