Clusters of p53 immunopositive epidermal keratinocytes (so-called p53 patches, clones or foci) are found in sun or ultraviolet (UV) light-exposed skin. We investigated to what extent these p53 patches are genuine precursors of skin carcinomas in chronically irradiated hairless (SKH1) mice. The mutation spectra of exons 5-8 of the p53 gene of laser-micro-dissected mutant p53 patches and carcinomas were therefore compared. The mutations we found were mainly UV-signature mutations (C-->T and CC-->TT at dipyrimidine sites) located at known hotspots. No significant differences were found between both spectra, indicating that all p53 patches harbour mutations with which they could progress to carcinomas. To examine whether these p53 patches can be used as tumour risk indicators, we made an extensive comparison of the induction kinetics of these patches and carcinomas in genetically modified mice with various defects in nucleotide excision repair (NER), i.e. xeroderma pigmentosum A (Xpa), Xpc and Cockayne syndrome B (Csb) and wild-type mice. In this aforementioned order, the mouse strains developed both p53 patches and carcinomas in the course of daily exposure to 40 J/m(2) UV. Hence, the order in which the NER-deficient mice developed patches was predictive of the order in which they developed tumours. The induction kinetics of the patches in Xpc-deficient mice differed notably from the others: there was a stationary phase (days 13-41) where the numbers were limited to 5-10 patches per mouse before an explosive increase which ran parallel to the other groups. The chance that a p53 patch progresses to carcinoma is relatively small (estimated at 1 out of 8300-40,000/individual when the first tumour appears), but our results are strongly indicative of a causal relationship between p53 patches and carcinomas.

Associations between polymorphisms in genes (SNPs) involved in the arachidonic acid (AA) pathway and colorectal adenomas have been investigated in a Dutch case control study including 384 cases and 403 polyp-free controls. Twenty-one polymorphisms in seven candidate genes were studied and a potential modifying effect of fish consumption was considered. A protective effect on colorectal adenomas was found for the CT genotype of SNP H477H in PPARgamma and the GC genotype of SNP V102V in COX-2 (OR 0.63, 95% CI 0.45-0.89 and OR 0.65, 95% CI 0.46-0.92, respectively) compared with the homozygous major genotypes. An increase in adenoma risk was observed for the TC genotype of SNP c.2242T-->C in COX-2 (OR 1.47, 95% CI 1.07-2.00) compared with the TT genotype. Analysis with estimated haplotypes confirmed these associations and revealed three additional associations with COX-2, sPLA(2) and 15LOX haplotypes. Fish consumption modified the associations with COX-2 and PPARdelta genotypes. For SNP c.-789C-->T in PPARdelta the major genotype showed a decrease in adenoma risk for those in the highest tertile of fish consumption (T3), as compared with the lowest tertile (T1) (OR 0.65, 95% CI 0.41-1.02). Protective effects were also observed for SNPs V102V and c.2242T-->C in COX-2 and high fish intake. The interaction between fish consumption and c.2242T-->C was statistically significant, with an OR for the TT genotype and high fish consumption of 0.52 (95% CI 0.27-1.01) as compared with low fish intake. These results indicate that SNPs in genes involved in the AA pathway are associated with colorectal adenoma risk. Some of these associations are modified by fish consumption.

The objective of this study on colorectal cancer was to investigate the associations between SNPs in the genes involved in the arachidonic acid (AA)-pathway, their haplotypes and colorectal cancer. Moreover, interactions between SNPs and fish consumption were considered. In this study, a total of 508 cases and 772 controls were included, originating from 2 prospective cohorts, the Monitoring Project on Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors (PPHV) and Diagnostisch Onderzoek Mammacarcinoom (DOM). Genotypes of 23 SNPs in 7 candidate genes were determined and the modifying effect of fish consumption was considered. A protective effect of the minor allele of SNP V102V in PTGS2 was observed (odds ratio (OR), 0.37; 95% confidence intervals (CI), 0.16-0.87). The haplotype representing this allele showed a weaker inverse association, indicating that 2 alleles are necessary to obtain this protective effect. Fish consumption data was available for 209 cases and 418 controls. Increased fish consumption was inversely associated with cancer, although not significant (OR, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.57-1.20). Despite the substantial reductions in cancer risk for some genotypes in combination with high fish intake, no significant interactions between any SNP studied and fish consumption were observed. We have previously described an association between colorectal adenomas and SNP V102V in PTGS2 and have now confirmed this association for colorectal adenocarcinomas. Fish consumption of once a week or more might protect against colorectal cancer, but no significant interactions with SNPs in the genes involved in the AApathway could be detected within the study. ' 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

This study confirms the protective effect of NSAIDs and suggests a modulating effect of a SNP in the promoter of PPARdelta.

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