Am J Cancer Res 2013;3(2):127-151
Review Article
Ethnical disparities of prostate cancer predisposition: genetic poly-morphisms
in androgen-related genes
Jie Li, Emma Mercer, Xin Gou, Yong-Jie Lu
Department of Urology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, China; Centre for Molecular Oncology, Barts
Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, London UK
Received February 16, 2013; Accepted March 3, 2013; Epub April 3, 2013; Published April 13, 2013
Abstract: Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most commonly diagnosed male malignancy and the second biggest cause of cancer
death in men of the Western world. Higher incidences of PCa occur in men from North America, Oceania and Western countries,
whereas men from Asia and North Africa have a much lower PCa incidence rate. Investigations into this population disparity of
PCa incidence, in order to identify potential preventive factors or targets for the therapeutic intervention of PCa, have found
differences in both environmental and genetic variations between these populations. Environmental variations include both diet
and lifestyle, which vary widely between populations. Evidence that diet comes into play has been shown by men who immigrate
from Eastern to Western countries. PCa incidence in these men is higher than men in their native countries. However the
number of immigrants developing PCa still doesn’t match native black/white men, therefore genetic factors also contribute to
PCa risk, which are supported by familial studies. There are a number of genetic polymorphisms that are differentially presented
between Western and Eastern men, which are potentially associated with PCa incidence. Androgen and its receptor (AR) play a
major role in PCa development and progression. In this study, we focus on genes involved in androgen biosynthesis and
metabolism, as well as those associated with AR pathway, whose polymorphisms affect androgen level and biological or
physiological functions of androgen. While many of the genetic polymorphisms in this androgen/AR system showed different
frequencies between populations, contradictory evidences exist for most of these genes investigated individually as to the true
contribution to PCa risk. More accurate measurements of androgen activity within the prostate are required and further studies
need to include more African and Asian subjects. As many of these genetic polymorphisms may contribute to different steps in
the same biological/physiological function of androgen and AR pathway, an integrated analysis considering the combined effect
of all the genetic polymorphisms may be necessary to assess their contribution to PCa initiation and progression.
(AJCR0000181)
Keywords: Prostate cancer, ethnical disparity, risk factors, genetic polymorphism, androgen, androgen receptor
Address correspondence to: Dr. Yong-Jie Lu, Centre for Molecular Oncology, Barts Cancer Institute, QMUL, John Vane Science
Centre, Char-terhouse Square, London, EC1M 6BQ, UK. Tel: +44 (0) 20 7882 3597; Fax: +44 (0) 20 7882 3884; E-mail: y.j.
lu@qmul.ac.uk
Review Article
Ethnical disparities of prostate cancer predisposition: genetic poly-morphisms
in androgen-related genes
Jie Li, Emma Mercer, Xin Gou, Yong-Jie Lu
Department of Urology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, China; Centre for Molecular Oncology, Barts
Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, London UK
Received February 16, 2013; Accepted March 3, 2013; Epub April 3, 2013; Published April 13, 2013
Abstract: Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most commonly diagnosed male malignancy and the second biggest cause of cancer
death in men of the Western world. Higher incidences of PCa occur in men from North America, Oceania and Western countries,
whereas men from Asia and North Africa have a much lower PCa incidence rate. Investigations into this population disparity of
PCa incidence, in order to identify potential preventive factors or targets for the therapeutic intervention of PCa, have found
differences in both environmental and genetic variations between these populations. Environmental variations include both diet
and lifestyle, which vary widely between populations. Evidence that diet comes into play has been shown by men who immigrate
from Eastern to Western countries. PCa incidence in these men is higher than men in their native countries. However the
number of immigrants developing PCa still doesn’t match native black/white men, therefore genetic factors also contribute to
PCa risk, which are supported by familial studies. There are a number of genetic polymorphisms that are differentially presented
between Western and Eastern men, which are potentially associated with PCa incidence. Androgen and its receptor (AR) play a
major role in PCa development and progression. In this study, we focus on genes involved in androgen biosynthesis and
metabolism, as well as those associated with AR pathway, whose polymorphisms affect androgen level and biological or
physiological functions of androgen. While many of the genetic polymorphisms in this androgen/AR system showed different
frequencies between populations, contradictory evidences exist for most of these genes investigated individually as to the true
contribution to PCa risk. More accurate measurements of androgen activity within the prostate are required and further studies
need to include more African and Asian subjects. As many of these genetic polymorphisms may contribute to different steps in
the same biological/physiological function of androgen and AR pathway, an integrated analysis considering the combined effect
of all the genetic polymorphisms may be necessary to assess their contribution to PCa initiation and progression.
(AJCR0000181)
Keywords: Prostate cancer, ethnical disparity, risk factors, genetic polymorphism, androgen, androgen receptor
Address correspondence to: Dr. Yong-Jie Lu, Centre for Molecular Oncology, Barts Cancer Institute, QMUL, John Vane Science
Centre, Char-terhouse Square, London, EC1M 6BQ, UK. Tel: +44 (0) 20 7882 3597; Fax: +44 (0) 20 7882 3884; E-mail: y.j.
lu@qmul.ac.uk
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American Journal of Cancer Research
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