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Five SNPs Validated As Linked to Lethal Prostate Cancer

TUESDAY, Aug. 16 (HealthDay News) -- Five single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in five genes have been validated as being significantly associated with lethal prostate cancer, according to a study published online Aug. 16 in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention.

Daniel W. Lin, M.D., from the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle, and colleagues investigated whether variations in selected candidate genes in biological pathways of prostate cancer progression could help distinguish patients at higher risk for fatal prostate cancer. A total of 937 SNPs in 156 genes from 1,309 patients with prostate cancer were genotyped, and 22 SNPs most associated with prostate cancer-specific mortality (PCSM) were identified. The identified SNPs were validated in an independent cohort of 2,875 patients.

The investigators validated five SNPs in five genes with a significant association with PCSM: LEPR, CRY1, RNASEL, IL4, and ARVCF. Men carrying four to five at-risk genotypes had a significantly higher risk of PCSM than those with zero to two at-risk genotypes. After adjusting for age and clinicopathological factors, the risk of PCSM increased with the number of at-risk genotypes present.

"Our study provides initial validation for five germline genetic variants that are associated with lethal prostate cancer outcomes," the authors write.

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