title: Genetic variation: effect on prostate cancer.
abstract: The crucial role of androgens in the development of prostate cancer is well established. The aim of this review is to examine the role of constitutional (germline) and tumor-specific (somatic) polymorphisms within important regulatory genes of prostate cancer. These include genes encoding enzymes of the androgen biosynthetic pathway, the androgen receptor gene, genes that encode proteins of the signal transduction pathways that may have a role in disease progression and survival, and genes involved in prostate cancer angiogenesis. Characterization of deregulated pathways critical to cancer cell growth have lead to the development of new treatments, including the CYP17 inhibitor abiraterone and clinical trials using novel drugs that are ongoing or recently completed [1]. The pharmacogenetics of the drugs used to treat prostate cancer will also be addressed. This review will define how germline polymorphisms are known affect a multitude of pathways, and therefore phenotypes, in prostate cancer etiology, progression, and treatment.
authors.affiliation: National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Tristan M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Sissung
authors.affiliation: National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Douglas K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Price
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Marzia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Del Re
authors.affiliation: National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Ariel M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Ley
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Giovannetti
authors.affiliation: National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
authors.forename: William D
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Figg
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Romano
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Danesi
mesh_terms: D013741:3-Oxo-5-alpha-Steroid 4-Dehydrogenase / Q000235:genetics; D000728:Androgens / Q000096:biosynthesis; D055106:Genome-Wide Association Study; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D010597:Pharmacogenetics; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D011944:Receptors, Androgen / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000728:Androgens; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011944:Receptors, Androgen; D013741:3-Oxo-5-alpha-Steroid 4-Dehydrogenase; C548468:SRD5A2 protein, human
keywords: Androgen deprivation therapy; Chemotherapy; Pharmacogenomics; Prostate cancer; Steroid