In parallel to the HPV studies, we have analyzed the p53 polymorphism at codon 72 (Arg, Pro or Arg/Pro) in the leukocyte and tumor DNA from 39 patients with prostate carcinomas and 48 patients with prostate hyperplasias by allele-specific PCR and PCR-RFLP analysis. This evidence concerns the gene TP53 and benign prostatic hyperplasia.