TP53 P72R Polymorphism Is Associated With P53 Protein Expression in Fatal Prostate Cancer: A Novel Case Report and Review of the Literature

Somatic alterations of TP53 in prostate cancer (PCa) are linked to high-grade tumors, increased metastatic potential, and an adverse prognosis. Although germline TP53 mutations significantly increase the risk of developing aggressive PCa, the impact of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) remains less understood. This report presents a novel case of a patient diagnosed post-mortem with aggressive, metastatic PCa, with autopsy revealing a TP53 variant at codon 72 as the sole abnormality with confirmatory histology, immunohistochemistry, and next-generation sequencing. The arginine variant (R72) is known to have altered biochemical properties and may increase the risk of aggressive PCa development. The impact of this polymorphism on PCa risk has not been fully established and remains controversial. This report reviews the existing literature on the TP53 P72R polymorphism and its association with PCa risk. Although the exact biological significance remains to be defined, the presence of this SNP might indicate an increased risk for the development of aggressive PCa in patients.