This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Chen, C. Articles by Goodman, G. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Chen, C. Articles by Goodman, G. Related Collections Commentary

Androgen Receptor Polymorphisms and the Incidence of Prostate Cancer¹

Program in Epidemiology [C. C., N. L., N. S. W., D. A. D.], Cancer Prevention Program [M. B., G. G.], and Program in Biostatistics [R. E., D. D.], Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington 98109-1024; Departments of Biostatistics [R. E.] and Epidemiology [C. C., N. S. W.], University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, 98195; and Swedish Tumor Institute, Seattle, Washington 98104 [G. G.]

The human androgen receptor gene contains polymorphic CAG and GGC repeats in exon 1. We investigated whether the number of CAG and/or GGC repeats is related to prostate cancer risk in a case-control study nested within the ß Carotene and Retinol Efficacy Trial. Among 300 cases and 300 controls, we did not observe any increase in risk associated with fewer CAG or GGC repeats. We observed a nonsignificant decrease in risk associated with each unit of decrease in CAG length [odds ratio (OR), 0.98; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.93–1.03). Men with CAG <22 had a relative risk of prostate cancer of 0.89 (95% CI, 0.65–1.23) compared with men with CAG 22. There was no appreciable difference in the mean number of GGC repeats between cases and controls; the estimated change in the risk of prostate cancer associated with one fewer GGC repeat was 0.97 (95% CI, 0.88–1.06). The risk in men at or below the mean number of GGC repeats (17) was 0.80 (95% CI, 0.57–1.12). In contrast to prior reports, men with both short CAG (<22) and short GGC (17) repeats were not at increased risk of prostate cancer (OR, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.32–0.98), compared with men with 22 CAG repeats and >17 GGC repeats. Our results do not support the hypothesis that a small number of CAG or GGC repeats in the androgen receptor gene increases a man’s risk of prostate cancer.

Commentary

Is the Androgen Receptor CAG Repeat Length Significant for Prostate Cancer? : Commentary re: C. Chen et al., Androgen Receptor Polymorphisms and the Incidence of Prostate Cancer. Cancer Epidemiol. Biomark. Prev., 11: 1033–1040, 2002

Edward Giovannucci
Cancer Epidemiol. Biomarkers Prev. 2002 11: 985-986. [Full Text] [PDF]

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. A. Albertelli, A. Scheller, M. Brogley, and D. M. Robins Replacing the Mouse Androgen Receptor with Human Alleles Demonstrates Glutamine Tract Length-Dependent Effects on Physiology and Tumorigenesis in Mice Mol. Endocrinol., June 1, 2006; 20(6): 1248 - 1260. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. A. Platz, M. F. Leitzmann, N. Rifai, P. W. Kantoff, Y.-C. Chen, M. J. Stampfer, W. C. Willett, and E. Giovannucci Sex Steroid Hormones and the Androgen Receptor Gene CAG Repeat and Subsequent Risk of Prostate Cancer in the Prostate-Specific Antigen Era Cancer Epidemiol. Biomarkers Prev., May 1, 2005; 14(5): 1262 - 1269. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				V. M. Hayes, G. Severi, S. A. Eggleton, E. J.D. Padilla, M. C. Southey, R. L. Sutherland, J. L. Hopper, and G. G. Giles The E211 G>A Androgen Receptor Polymorphism Is Associated with a Decreased Risk of Metastatic Prostate Cancer and Androgenetic Alopecia Cancer Epidemiol. Biomarkers Prev., April 1, 2005; 14(4): 993 - 996. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Ferlin, A. Garolla, A. Bettella, L. Bartoloni, C. Vinanzi, A. Roverato, and C. Foresta Androgen receptor gene CAG and GGC repeat lengths in cryptorchidism Eur. J. Endocrinol., March 1, 2005; 152(3): 419 - 425. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. K. Dunn, D. L. Wickerham, and L. G. Ford Prevention of Hormone-Related Cancers: Breast Cancer J. Clin. Oncol., January 10, 2005; 23(2): 357 - 367. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. P. Zeegers, L. A.L.M. Kiemeney, A. M. Nieder, and H. Ostrer How Strong Is the Association Between CAG and GGN Repeat Length Polymorphisms in the Androgen Receptor Gene and Prostate Cancer Risk? Cancer Epidemiol. Biomarkers Prev., November 1, 2004; 13(11): 1765 - 1771. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Ferlin, L. Bartoloni, G. Rizzo, A. Roverato, A. Garolla, and C. Foresta Androgen receptor gene CAG and GGC repeat lengths in idiopathic male infertility Mol. Hum. Reprod., June 1, 2004; 10(6): 417 - 421. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. Chen, N. S. Weiss, F. Z. Stanczyk, S. K. Lewis, D. DiTommaso, R. Etzioni, M. J. Barnett, and G. E. Goodman Endogenous Sex Hormones and Prostate Cancer Risk: A Case-Control Study Nested within the Carotene and Retinol Efficacy Trial Cancer Epidemiol. Biomarkers Prev., December 1, 2003; 12(12): 1410 - 1416. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]