Ethnic and racial differences in prostate stromal estrogen receptor alpha.
BACKGROUND
Prostate cancer incidence and mortality rates vary widely among individuals of different ethnic/racial groups. We identified a relationship between a subset of genes and race/ethnicity using gene expression profiling. Estrogen receptor alpha (ERalpha) was selected for confirmation due to its plausible biological role in cancer susceptibility.


METHODS
Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Q-PCR) was used to verify gene expression results. Protein levels of ERalpha were determined by quantitative immunohistochemistry in a large-scale tissue microarray study (n = 183).


RESULTS
ERalpha was significantly higher in stroma of Hispanic and Asian men than in Caucasian (P < 0.0001) and African American men (P < 0.0002), who are at higher risk for prostate cancer. In addition, large differences were seen in Q-PCR levels of ERalpha in prostate tissues of organ donors 16-29 years old who had no evidence of cancer.


CONCLUSIONS
ERalpha exhibits variable expression in men of difference racial/ethnic background. Understanding the molecular basis for these differences may form the basis for prostate cancer prevention strategies with widespread public health impact.
Haqq
Christopher
C
Department of Medicine, Program in Urologic Oncology, UCSF Comprehensive Cancer Center, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA. chaqq@itsa.ucsf.edu
Li
Rile
R
Khodabakhsh
Daniel
D
Frolov
Anna
A
Ginzinger
David
D
Thompson
Timothy
T
Wheeler
Thomas
T
Carroll
Peter
P
Ayala
Gustavo
G
D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D005006:Ethnicity; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011467:Prostate / Q000502:physiology*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology; D044469:Racial Groups; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000502:physiology
D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha