A Y chromosomal influence on prostate cancer risk: the multi-ethnic cohort study

J Med Genet. 2003 Nov;40(11):815-9. doi: 10.1136/jmg.40.11.815.

Abstract

Background: A Y chromosomal role in prostate cancer has previously been suggested by both cytogenetic findings and patterns of Y chromosomal gene expression. We took advantage of the well established and stable phylogeny of the non-recombining segment of the Y chromosome to investigate the association between Y chromosomal DNA variation and prostate cancer risk.

Methods: We examined the distribution of 116 Y lineages in 930 prostate cancer cases and 1208 controls from four ethnic groups from a cohort study in Hawaii and California.

Results: One lineage, found only among the Japanese group in our study, was associated with a statistically significant predisposition to prostate cancer (odds ratio (OR) = 1.63; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.07 to 2.47), and, in particular, to high severity disease in younger individuals (OR = 3.89; 95% CI 1.34 to 11.31).

Conclusions: This finding suggests that a Y chromosomal factor contributes significantly to the development of prostate cancer in Japanese men.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Chromosomes, Human, Y / physiology*
  • Cohort Studies
  • Female
  • Genetic Markers / genetics
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease / epidemiology
  • Haplotypes / genetics
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Odds Ratio
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / classification
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / epidemiology
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / ethnology*
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Risk Factors

Substances

  • Genetic Markers