title: Vitamin D receptor gene polymorphism in familial prostate cancer in a Japanese population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Vitamin D acts as an antiproliferative agent against prostate cells. Epidemiological study has shown that a low level of serum vitamin D concentration is a risk factor for prostate cancer. Vitamin D acts via vitamin D receptor (VDR), and an association of genetic polymorphisms of the VDR gene has been reported. In the current study, we examined the association of VDR gene polymorphisms with familial prostate cancer in a Japanese population.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a case-control study consisting of 81 familial prostate cancer cases and 105 normal control subjects. Three genetic polymorphisms (BsmI, ApaI and TaqI) in the VDR gene were examined by the restriction fragment restriction length polymorphism method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, there was no significant association of the VDR gene polymorphisms with familial prostate cancer risk in the cases and control subjects. However, a weak association between BsmI or TaqI genotypes and cancer risk was observed in subjects under 70 years of age. Stratification of cases by clinical stage or pathological grade did not show significant association between the VDR gene polymorphisms and prostate cancer risk.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the present study, we could not confirm any significant association between VDR gene polymorphisms with familial prostate cancer risk in a Japanese population. Further large-scale case-control studies are warranted to confirm the importance of VDR gene polymorphisms in familial prostate cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Gunma University School of Medicine, Gunma, Japan. kazu@showa.gunma-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Kazuhiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Matsui
authors.forename: Nobuaki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ohtake
authors.forename: Seiji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nakata
authors.forename: Tomoyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takei
authors.forename: Hidekazu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Koike
authors.forename: Haruki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nakazato
authors.forename: Hironobu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Okugi
authors.forename: Masaru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hasumi
authors.forename: Yoshitatsu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fukabori
authors.forename: Kohei
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kurokawa
authors.forename: Hidetoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yamanaka
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D018167:Receptors, Calcitriol / Q000235:genetics*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D018167:Receptors, Calcitriol