title: Genetic variability of the human SRD5A2 gene: implications for prostate cancer risk.
abstract: Elevated dihydrotestosterone levels have been suggested to increase the risk of prostate cancer. The human SRD5A2 gene encodes the type II steroid 5 alpha-reductase, which converts testosterone to the more bioactive compound dihydrotestosterone. We have determined the distribution of a dinucleotide repeat in low-risk Asian-Americans, high-risk African-Americans, and intermediate-risk non-Hispanic Whites. We found this marker to be more polymorphic than previously reported, with some alleles being specific to African-Americans. Genetic variants of the SRD5A2 gene may play a role in predisposition to prostate cancer and in explaining the substantial racial/ethnic variability in risk.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Southern California/Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Southern California School of Medicine, Los Angeles 9003-1034, USA.
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Reichardt
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Makridakis
authors.forename: B E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Henderson
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Pike
authors.forename: R K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Ross
mesh_terms: D013741:3-Oxo-5-alpha-Steroid 4-Dehydrogenase / Q000235:genetics*; D000368:Aged; D000483:Alleles; D044466:Asian People / Q000235:genetics; D001483:Base Sequence; D044383:Black People / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000208:ethnology / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics*; D012306:Risk; D044465:White People / Q000235:genetics; D001741:Black or African American
chemical_list: D013741:3-Oxo-5-alpha-Steroid 4-Dehydrogenase