Int J Cancer  1997 Nov 14;73(4):492-6 

Molecular analysis of occupational cancer: infrequent p53 and ras mutations in
renal-cell cancer in workers exposed to gasoline.

Roth S, Partanen T, Suitiala T, Anttila S, Ojajarvi A, Hemminki K, Vainio H,
Husgafvel-Pursiainen K.

Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Finnish Institute of Occupational
Health, Helsinki.

Occupational exposure to gasoline has been identified in several studies as a
risk factor for renal-cell cancer. Cases of renal-cell cancer with and without
work-related exposure to gasoline or gasoline and diesel fuel were studied for
the presence of mutations in the tumour-suppressor gene p53 (n = 23 exposed and
30 non-exposed cases studied) and ras oncogene (n = 30 exposed and 36
non-exposed cases studied). An average cumulative exposure was estimated at 10
ppm-years benzene among the exposed. Three p53 mutations were detected by
denaturing-gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) among the 23 exposed cases (3/23,
13%). Of the non-exposed referent cases, 4 had a mutation (4/30, 13%). All but
one of the cases with a p53 mutation had smoked. A ras gene (K-ras or N-ras)
mutation was found in 3 (3/66, 4.5%) cases, all of whom were smoker referents.
We conclude that p53 and ras mutations are infrequent in renal-cell cancer
associated with occupational exposure to gasoline. However, the majority of the
mutations (6/7 for p53, and 3/3 for ras genes) were seen in smokers.

PMID: 9389561 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]