Possible Link Between Gene Variants (SNPs) And Prostate Cancer Risk

Main Category: Prostate / Prostate Cancer
Also Included In: Urology / Nephrology;  Cancer / Oncology;  Genetics
Article Date: 27 Jun 2008 - 5:00 PDT

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ORLANDO, FL (UroToday.com) - Dr. Jianfeng Xu, Wake Forest University discussed SNPs and CaP risk. CaP risk variants are now linked to the risk of developing CaP. CaP is the strongest hereditary cancer, at 42%. Researchers have focused on common, but small allelic changes in SNPs. Focus has been on regions on chromosomes 8q and 17q.

Five risk variants were studied in patients from Sweden and John Hopkins. The frequency of the 5 variants was increased in cases as compared to controls. Combination of the 5 variants demonstrated much higher risk than any individual variant. Having more than 4 risk variants correlated with a 4.5 fold higher risk of CaP and if combined with a positive family history of CaP the risk increased to over 9 fold.

The sensitivity of 4 or more altered variants was more sensitive and specific than a PSA cutpoint of 4ng/ml. He proposed combining PSA with genetic variants to predict risk. It may be also prove useful to differentiate low aggressiveness from high aggressiveness in CaP patients.

Presented by Jianfeng Xu, MD, at the Annual Meeting of the American Urological Association (AUA) - May 17 - 22, 2008. Orange County Convention Center - Orlando, Florida, USA.

Reported by UroToday.com Contributing Editor Christopher P. Evans, MD, FACS

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