OBJECTIVESTo investigate Bsm I single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of vitamin D receptor gene (VDRG) in low-risk Chinese Han population and its relationship to the susceptibility to prostate cancer (PCa), and to discuss the possible reason for the racial difference of PCa.

METHODSOne hundred and three patients with PCa and 106 normal controls, mainly from Northern Chinese Han population, were enrolled in this study. Their blood samples were obtained, all of which were genotyped for Bsm I SNP by denaturing high performance liquid chromatography(DHPLC) methods using case-control study.

RESULTSThe distribution of genotype and allele had no significant difference between PCa patients and normal controls (P > 0.05). The frequencies for the bb, Bb and BB genotypes in PCa patients and normal controls were 92.23%/94.34%, 7.77%/5.66%, and 0/0, respectively. The frequencies for B and b allele were 3.88%, 96.12% and 2.91%, 97.09%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONSThe results indicate no significant relationship between the VDRG polymorphisms and PCa in Northern Chinese Han population. The distribution of VDRG Bsm I SNP varies in different ethnic populations, which may be one reason for the racial difference of PCa.