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Association between the GCG polymorphism of the selenium dependent GPX1 gene and the risk of young onset prostate cancer

Prostate Cancer and Prostatic Diseases volume 5, pages 189–192 (2002)Cite this article

Abstract

Epidemiological studies have suggested an association between low selenium levels and the development of prostate cancer. Human cellular glutathione peroxidase I (hGPX1) is a selenium-dependent enzyme that protects against oxidative damage and its peroxidase activity is a plausible mechanism for cancer prevention by selenium. The GPX1 gene has a GCG repeat polymorphism in exon 1, coding for a polyalanine tract of five to seven alanine residues. To test if the GPX1 GCG repeat polymorphism associates with the risk of young-onset prostate cancer we conducted a case–control study. The GPX1 Ala genotypes were determined for 267 prostate cancer cases and 260 control individuals using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification with fluorescently labelled primers and an ABI 377 automated genotyper. Associations between specific genotypes and the risk of prostate cancer were examined by logistic regression. We found no significant association between the GPX1 genotypes and prostate cancer. There was however an increased frequency of the GPX1 Ala6/Ala6 genotype in the prostate cancer cases compared to controls (OR: 1.67; 95% CI: 0.97–2.87). The result of this study suggests that the GPX1 genotype is unlikely to be associated with the risk of developing prostate cancer.

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Acknowledgements

We are very grateful for the generous grants from the Prostate Cancer Charitable Trust (PCCT) and the Cancer Research Campaign. The PCCT supported Z K-J. FD is a Hitchings-Elion Fellow of the Burroughs Wellcome Fund. We are grateful to all the participating physicians and patients contributing samples. The PCR and ABI 377 machines were donated by the Prostate Research Charity (UK) and the Marion Silcock legacy and we are very grateful for their support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Section of Cancer Genetics, The Institute of Cancer Research and Royal Marsden NHS Trust, Sutton, Surrey, UK

    Z Kote-Jarai, S M Edwards, R Hamoudi, R A Jackson, A Ardern-Jones, A Murkin, D P Dearnaley, R Houlston & R Eeles

  2. CRC Genetic Epidemiology Unit, Strangeways Research Laboratory, Cambridge, UK

    F Durocher & D F Easton

  3. Department of Urology, St Georges Hospital, Tooting, London, UK

    R Kirby

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  1. Z Kote-Jarai
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  2. F Durocher
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  10. R Houlston
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  11. D F Easton
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The CRC/BPG UK Familial Prostate Cancer Collaborators

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Correspondence to Z Kote-Jarai or R Eeles.

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Kote-Jarai, Z., Durocher, F., Edwards, S. et al. Association between the GCG polymorphism of the selenium dependent GPX1 gene and the risk of young onset prostate cancer. Prostate Cancer Prostatic Dis 5, 189–192 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.pcan.4500569

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.pcan.4500569

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