Androgen receptor CAG repeat polymorphisms in canine prostate cancer.
BACKGROUND
Relatively shorter lengths of the polymorphic polyglutamine repeat-1 of the androgen receptor (AR) have been associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer (PC) in humans. In the dog, there are 2 polymorphic CAG repeat (CAGr) regions.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the relationship of CAGr length of the canine AR-gene and the development of PC.


METHODS
Thirty-two dogs with PC and 172 control dogs were used.


METHODS
DNA was extracted from blood. Both CAG repeats were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and PCR products were sequenced.


RESULTS
In dogs with PC, CAG-1 repeat length was shorter (P = .001) by an increased proportion of 10 repeats (P = .011) and no 12 repeats (P = .0017) than in the control dogs. No significant changes were found in CAG-3 length distribution. CAG-1 and CAG-3 polymorphisms proved not to be in linkage disequilibrium. Breed difference in allelic distribution was found in the control group. Of the prostate-disease sensitive breeds, a high percentage (64.5%) of the shortest haplotype 10/11 was found in the Doberman, whereas Beagles and German Pointers had higher haplotype 12/11 (47.1 and 50%). Bernese Mountain dogs and Bouvier dogs both shared a high percentage of 11 CAG-1 repeats and 13 CAG-3 repeats. Differences in (combined) allelic distributions among breeds were not significant.


CONCLUSIONS
In this preliminary study, short CAG-1 repeats in the AR-gene were associated with an increased risk of developing canine PC. Although breed-specific differences in allelic distribution of CAG-1 and CAG-3 repeats were found, these could not be related to PC risk.
Lai
C-L
CL
Department of Clinical Sciences of Companion Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, TD Utrecht, The Netherlands.
L'Eplattenier
H
H
van den Ham
R
R
Verseijden
F
F
Jagtenberg
A
A
Mol
J A
JA
Teske
E
E
D000818:Animals; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000235:genetics*; D004285:Dogs; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D008297:Male; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000662:veterinary*; D011944:Receptors, Androgen / Q000235:genetics*
D011944:Receptors, Androgen