Is there a specific mutation of p53 gene due to radon exposure? A systematic review

Purpose: To review the existing literature analysing the influence of radon exposure on mutations in tumour protein 53 gene (TP53) in lung cancer patients. Material and methods: Medline and EMBASE databases along with the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) monographies were revised. Studies that had radon concentration as exposure variable and TP53 mutations as a result variable were included. Results: Eight studies were obtained, with a total of 578 individuals. They had been carried out on miners and on general population. A 26% of the miners' tumours had a mutation in gene TP53, versus a 24% in the population exposed to residential radon. A predominance of the AGGARG ATGMET (Arginine to Methionine) mutation in miners was observed. Conclusions: The available results are not consistent in order to support the existence of a radon hotspot in TP53 gene. Future research should focus at least on exons 5 to 8, where most of the mutation clusters in lung tumours are observed.