Evidence of an X-linked or recessive genetic component to prostate cancer risk.
We used data from a population-based cohort study of blacks, Hispanics, Japanese and whites to examine the frequency of prevalent prostate and breast cancer by family history status of first-degree relatives (parents and siblings). Independent of race, the age-adjusted relative risk for prevalent prostate cancer in subjects with affected brothers was approximately two times that in subjects with affected fathers (P < 0.00005). No such excess risk for breast cancer was observed among subjects with affected sisters compared to those with affected mothers (age- and race-adjusted relative risk = 1.10, P = 0.34). The magnitude of the relative risk for prostate cancer in sibling- versus parent-affected groups was significantly different from that of the comparable relative risk for breast cancer (P < 0.00005). An excess risk of prostate cancer in men with affected brothers compared to those with affected fathers is consistent with the hypothesis of an X-linked, or recessive, model of inheritance.
Monroe
K R
KR
Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Southern California School of Medicine, Los Angeles 90033, USA.
Yu
M C
MC
Kolonel
L N
LN
Coetzee
G A
GA
Wilkens
L R
LR
Ross
R K
RK
Henderson
B E
BE
D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D008040:Genetic Linkage; D006254:Hawaii / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015141:Los Angeles / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008957:Models, Genetic; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D044469:Racial Groups; D012306:Risk; D014960:X Chromosome