title: Genetic variation in the lactase gene, dairy product intake and risk for prostate cancer in the European prospective investigation into cancer and nutrition.
abstract: High dairy protein intake has been found to be associated with increased prostate cancer risk in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC). To further examine this possible relationship, we investigated the hypothesis that a genetic polymorphism in the lactase (LCT) gene might be associated with elevated dairy product intake and increased prostate cancer risk in a case-control study nested in EPIC. The C/T-13910 lactase variant (rs4988235) was genotyped in 630 men with prostate cancer and 873 matched control participants. Dairy product consumption was assessed by diet questionnaire. Odds ratios (ORs) for prostate cancer in relation to lactase genotype were estimated by conditional logistic regression. Lactase genotype frequency varied significantly between countries, with frequencies of the T (lactase persistence) allele ranging from 7% in Greece to 79% in Denmark. Intake of milk and total dairy products varied significantly by lactase genotype after adjustment for recruitment center; adjusted mean intakes of milk were 44.4, 69.8 and 82.3 g/day among men with CC, CT and TT genotypes, respectively. The lactase variant was not significantly associated with prostate cancer risk, both in our data (adjusted OR for TT vs. CC homozygotes: 1.10, 95% CI: 0.76-1.59) and in a meta-analysis of all the published data (combined OR for T allele carriers vs. CC homozygotes: 1.12, 0.96-1.32). These findings show that while variation in the lactase gene is associated with milk intake in men, the lactase polymorphism does not have a large effect on prostate cancer risk.
authors.affiliation: Cancer Epidemiology Unit, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom. ruth.travis@ceu.ox.ac.uk
authors.forename: Ruth C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Travis
authors.forename: Paul N
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Appleby
authors.forename: Afshan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Siddiq
authors.forename: Naomi E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.forename: Rudolf
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authors.lastname: Kaaks
authors.forename: Federico
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authors.lastname: Canzian
authors.forename: Silke
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Feller
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tjønneland
authors.forename: Nina
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authors.lastname: Føns Johnsen
authors.forename: Kim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Overvad
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ramón Quirós
authors.forename: Carlos A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: González
authors.forename: Maria-José
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Sánchez
authors.forename: Nerea
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Larrañaga
authors.forename: Maria-Dolores
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Chirlaque
authors.forename: Aurelio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Barricarte
authors.forename: Kay-Tee
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Khaw
authors.forename: Nick
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Wareham
authors.forename: Antonia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Trichopoulou
authors.forename: Elisavet
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Valanou
authors.forename: Erifili
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Oustoglou
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Palli
authors.forename: Sabina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sieri
authors.forename: Rosario
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tumino
authors.forename: Carlotta
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sacerdote
authors.forename: H B as
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Bueno-de-Mesquita
authors.forename: Pär
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Stattin
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ferrari
authors.forename: Mattias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Johansson
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Norat
authors.forename: Elio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Riboli
authors.forename: Timothy J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Key
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003611:Dairy Products; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006801:Humans; D043322:Lactase / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D043322:Lactase