The present application provides a method for the determination of the risk of a subject having or developing cancer or other condition associated with the expression of a particular polymorphism of the p53 allele, of its homolog or ortholog. The preferred polymorphisms are associated with codons 72 and 80. Furthermore, the present invention provides epidemiological data relating the presence of a particular expressed p53 allele to its association with cancers in different ethnic human groups including Caucasians, Chinese, Indians and Malaysians. The epidemiological data are based on skin color and/or latitude of the region of origin of the ethnic group. Kits comprising primers and/or probes or immunological reagents for the detection of particular expressed p53 alleles in biological samples are also provided. The present invention further provides vectors and both gene therapy and protein replacement methods for prophylactic or therapeutic treatment of cancers.
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