Prostate cancer risk and ESR1 TA, ESR2 CA repeat polymorphisms.
BACKGROUND
Experimental evidence has suggested that estrogen receptor alpha (coded by the gene ESR1) might increase prostate cancer risk, whereas estrogen receptor beta (coded by the gene ESR2) might reduce prostate cancer risk.


METHODS
We investigated the relationship with prostate cancer risk of both a TA repeat polymorphism in the ESR1 5' region, ESR1 (TA)(n), and with a CA repeat polymorphism in intron 5 of ESR2, ESR2 (CA)(n), in a case-control study (545 cases and 674 controls) nested in the Physicians' Health Study.


RESULTS
Prostate cancer risk was highest for carriers of ESR1 (TA)(24) and ESR1 (TA)(25). Replacing one modal ESR1 (TA)(14) allele with one ESR1 (TA)(24) allele yielded an odds ratio of 1.42 (95% confidence interval, 1.00-2.00; P=0.05). Replacing one ESR1 (TA)(14) allele with one ESR1 (TA)(25) allele yielded an odds ratio of 2.10 (95% confidence interval, 1.15-3.84; P=0.02). ESR2 (CA)(n) showed no effects on prostate cancer risk.


CONCLUSIONS
The ESR1 (TA)(n) polymorphism might play a role in prostate cancer risk.
McIntyre
Matthew H
MH
Channing Laboratory, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 181 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA. mmcintyr@mail.ucf.edu
Kantoff
Philip W
PW
Stampfer
Meir J
MJ
Mucci
Lorelei A
LA
Parslow
Diane
D
Li
Haojie
H
Gaziano
J Michael
JM
Abe
Miyako
M
Ma
Jing
J
D016022:Case-Control Studies; D018900:Dinucleotide Repeats; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta