Eeles RA et al. (2008) Multiple newly identified loci associated with prostate cancer susceptibility. Nat Genet 40: 316–321

Thomas G et al. (2008) Multiple loci identified in a genome-wide association study of prostate cancer. Nat Genet 40: 310–315

Gudmundsson J et al. (2008) Common sequence variants on 2p15 and Xp11.22 confer susceptibility to prostate cancer. Nat Genet 40: 281–283

Three papers published in Nature Genetics have investigated the genetic basis of prostate cancer, and identified new loci associated with risk for the disease. The identification of such loci offers the potential for improved risk stratification and novel therapeutic targets.

In the first paper, Eeles et al. report a two-stage, genome-wide association study (GWAS) conducted in men from the UK and Australia. The authors confirmed associations between the previously identified loci 8q24 and 17q and prostate cancer risk, and identified a further seven loci on chromosomes 3, 6, 7, 10, 11, 19 and X that had significant associations with the disease. The most promising candidate genes included MSMB, KLK3, LMTK2, NUDT10 and NUDT11.

Thomas et al. report the results of a different two-stage GWAS conducted in US men of European ancestry. Associations between prostate cancer and 8q24 and 17q were confirmed, and further significantly associated loci were identified on chromosomes 7, 10 and 11. Candidate genes included MSMB, CTBP2 and JAZF1.

The third study, by Gudmundsson et al., investigated two single-nucleotide polymorphisms (identified in an initial Icelandic GWAS) in seven European and US cohorts. Both polymorphisms, on chromosomes Xp11.22 and 2p15, were significantly associated with prostate cancer risk. Candidate genes included EHBP1, GSPT2, MAGED1, NUDT10 and NUDT11.