In this recent paper, the frequency of p53 signatures in the fallopian tubes of BRCA + women was recorded as 24% (10/24), in contrast to women with other disorders, which was 33% (19/58). We have since discovered that a proportion of the cases originally classified as BRCA + in our high-risk population had not been documented genetically as having a BRCA mutation. To address this error, we reviewed p53 immunostains from 605 tissue blocks of 75 consecutive prophylactic salpingectomies from women with documented BRCA mutations at our institution. This cohort included the cases in our report; 37% (28/75) contained p53 signatures. This does not alter the conclusion that p53 signatures have a similar frequency in women with and without a documented BRCA mutation. However, it provides a more accurate estimate of the latter and reiterates the hypothesis that the initial phase of serous carcinogenesis in the fallopian tube is not BRCA-dependent.

Intragastric administration of acute doses of Technical X-factor (beta-isomer free BHC, a byproduct obtained during separation of Lindane from Tech. BHC) carried in peanut oil elicited typical signs of central nervous system depression in adult rats. The computed oral LD50 values of X-factor were 4174 and 5673 mg/kg. body weight for male and female rats respectively indicating that its acute toxicity was of relatively low order compared to Tech. BHC. It is suggested that the low acute mammalian toxicity of X-factor could possibly be due to a direct antagonism of the delta isomer (present in larger proportion in X-factor) with the gamma isomer.