The MDM2 gene encodes a negative regulator of the p53 tumour suppressor protein. A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the MDM2 promoter (a T to G exchange at nucleotide 309) has been reported to produce accelerated tumour formation in individuals with inherited p53 mutations. We have investigated the effect of the MDM2 SNP309 on clinical outcome in a cohort of patients with germline mutations of BRCA1.
Cancer Research UK Oncology Unit, Cancer Sciences Division, University of Southampton School of Medicine, Southampton General Hospital, Southampton, SO16 6YD, UK. erc1@soton.ac.uk
