title: Variations in testosterone pathway genes and susceptibility to testicular cancer in Norwegian men.
abstract: Imbalance between the oestrogen and androgen levels in utero is hypothesized to influence testicular cancer (TC) risk. Thus, variation in genes involved in the action of sex hormones may contribute to variability of an individual's susceptibility to TC. Mutations in testosterone pathway genes may alter the level of testosterone in vivo and hypothetically the risk of developing TC. Luteinizing hormone receptor (LHR), 5α-reductase II (SRD5A2) and androgen receptor (AR) are key elements in androgen action. A case-control study comprising 651 TC cases and 313 controls in a Norwegian population was conducted for investigation of polymorphisms in the LHR, SRD5A and AR genes and their possible association with TC. A statistical significant difference was observed in patients being heterozygous for the LHR Asn312Ser polymorphism when comparing genotypes between all TC cases and controls (OR = 0.66, 95% CI = 0.48-0.89, p(adj) = 0.049). No statistically significant difference between the histological subtypes seminoma and non-seminoma was observed. Our results may suggest a possible association between genetic variation in the LHR gene and the risk of developing TC.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, Oslo and Akershus University College of Applied Sciences.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kristiansen
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, Oslo and Akershus University College of Applied Sciences.
authors.forename: E L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Aschim
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, Oslo and Akershus University College of Applied Sciences.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Andersen
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, Oslo and Akershus University College of Applied Sciences.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Witczak
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Oslo University Hospital.|Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Fosså
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, Oslo and Akershus University College of Applied Sciences.
authors.forename: T B
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Haugen
mesh_terms: D013741:3-Oxo-5-alpha-Steroid 4-Dehydrogenase / Q000235:genetics; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D009154:Mutation; D009664:Norway; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011944:Receptors, Androgen / Q000235:genetics; D011974:Receptors, LH / Q000235:genetics; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011944:Receptors, Androgen; D011974:Receptors, LH; D013739:Testosterone; D013741:3-Oxo-5-alpha-Steroid 4-Dehydrogenase; C548468:SRD5A2 protein, human