Analysis of polymorphic patterns in candidate genes in Israeli patients with prostate cancer.

BACKGROUND The precise genes involved in conferring prostate cancer risk in sporadic and familial cases are not fully known. OBJECTIVES To evaluate the genetic profile within several candidate genes of unselected prostate cancer cases and to correlate this profile with disease parameters. METHODS Jewish Israeli prostate cancer patients (n = 224) were genotyped for polymorphisms within candidate genes: p53, ER, VDR, GSTT1, CYP1A1, GSTP1, GSTM1, EPHX and HPC2/ELAC2, followed by analysis of the genotype with relevant clinical and pathologic parameters. RESULTS The EPHX gene His113 allele was detected in 21.4% (33/154) of patients in whom disease was diagnosed above 61 years, compared with 5.7% (4/70) in earlier onset disease (P < 0.001). Within the group of late-onset disease, the same allele was noted in 5.5% (2/36) with grade I tumors compared with 18% (34/188) with grade II and up (P = 0.004). All other tested polymorphisms were not associated with a distinct clinical or pathologic feature in a statistically significant manner. CONCLUSIONS In Israeli prostate cancer patients, the EPHX His113 allele is seemingly associated with a more advanced, late-onset disease. These preliminary data need to be confirmed by a larger and more ethnically diverse study.