OBJECTIVETo investigate the association between the polymorphism of CYP17 gene and risk of prostate cancer in Chinese Vigurs men.

METHODSA case-control study including 31 patients with prostate cancer and 104 aged-matched controls was conducted. The polymorphism was investigated by PCR using DNA from peripheral blood lymphocytes. The transition (T-->C) in the risk allele (A2) produced a new recognition site for the restriction enzyme MSPAI I. Three genotypes of CYP17 gene (A1/A1, A1/A2, A2/A2) were determined and confirmed by sequencing.

RESULTSCompared with male A1/A1 genotype, the odds ratios were 1.49 and 2.87 for the A1/A2 and A2/A2 genotypes (P =0.321, 0. 052, respectively). Comparison among 3 subgroups (division by genetypes) of prostate cancer patients, the PSA levels were not significantly different. But in the controls, PSA levels in A1/A2 group were higher but not significant than those in A1/A1 group (P = 0.062). Then, PSA levels in A2/A2 group were significantly higher than those A1/ A1 group (P = 0.018).

CONCLUSIONMore frequency of A2/A2 genotype in prostate cancer than in the control may be associated with the morbidity of prostate cancer in Vigurs male population. Meanwhile, the significant high PSA levels in A2/A2 group also support the view.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Case-Control Studies ; China ; ethnology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; ethnology ; genetics ; Steroid 17-alpha-Hydroxylase ; genetics