The
p53
mutation spectrum can generate hypotheses linking carcinogen exposure to human cancer. Although it is well-documented that tobacco smoking is a major cause of lung cancer, the contribution of air pollution is less well-established. We determined the molecular and immunohistochemical changes (
p53
gene mutations, p53 protein accumulation and WAF1 protein expression) and genetic polymorphisms of
GSTM1, CYP1A1
and
CYP2D6
genes in a case series of non-small-cell lung cancers from Silesia. This region of southern Poland is highly industrialized with considerable environmental pollution. More than 50% of lung cancers (90/164) contained
p53
mutations and 75% showed the combined alteration of the
p53
gene and protein accumulation. Males occupationally exposed to coal-derived substances showed a relatively high frequency of squamous and large-cell carcinomas, relatively frequent mutations in codon 298 of
p53
and a low frequency of p53 immunohistochemically positive tumours. Codon 298 GAG→ →TAG mutations have rarely been found in lung cancers in other populations. We found no correlation between WAF1 protein expression and mutations in the
p53
gene or p53 protein accumulation. No statistically significant relationship was found between
p53
mutations and
GSTM1, CYP1A1, CYP2D6
genotypes. Never smokers with lung cancers from Silesia had a higher frequency of G:C→ →T:A transversions than previously reported of the
p53
mutation spectrum in never smokers (6/15 vs 4/34;
P
= 0.06 by χ
2
). These data are a tentative indication that occupational and environmental exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, such as benzo(a)pyrene, in polluted air contributes to the molecular pathogenesis of lung cancer in never smokers. © 1999 Cancer Research Campaign