Association of genetic polymorphisms at 8q24 with the risk of prostate cancer in a Japanese population.

Background: Genetic factors, as well as a combination of environmental factors, contribute to the risk of prostate cancer (PC). Recently, genome-wide linkage studies found several independent single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that are strongly associated with PC on chromosome 8q24.

Methods: We analyzed two of these SNPs, rs1447295 and rs6983267, to examine association with the risk of PC in Japanese men. These SNPs were examined by a mismatch PCR-RFLP method in 507 PC patients (286 aggressive and 221 non-aggressive) and in 511 non-PC patients (124 benign prostatic hyperplasia and 387 normal male controls) and the allele frequencies were then compared between groups.

Results: The rs1447295 A allele was associated with susceptibility to PC (PC vs. non-PC: P = 0.041; OR, 1.28; 95%CI = 1.01-1.61), and was more significantly associated with disease in aggressive PC (aggressive PC vs. normal controls, P = 0.013; OR, 1.43; 95%CI = 1.08-1.90). The rs6983267 G allele did not show significant association with susceptibility to PC (PC vs. non-PC: P = 0.967; OR, 1.00; 95%CI = 0.83-1.21). However, it was associated with disease in non-aggressive PC (non-aggressive PC vs. normal controls: P = 0.0068; OR, 1.43; 95%CI = 1.10-1.85).

Conclusions: The two SNPs at 8q24 were associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer and contributed to tumor aggression in Japanese men.