Vitamin D receptor gene polymorphisms and prostate cancer.

Prostate cancer (PC) is the most common cancer among men worldwide and its pathogenesis is complex. The development of PC depends on family and environmental factors. Vitamin D can be associated with both of these factors. Its reduced serum concentration has been reported in a number of tumors. However, in the case of PC, the study results are conflicting. Polymorphism of VDR gene may also be involved in the development of this cancer. The aim of the study was to compare the frequency of selected polymorphisms in patients with PC and in men without this disease. Seventy-two Caucasian males aged 35-75 years with histologically proven PC (T1/T2) were enrolled in the study group. Seventy-two random age-matched Caucasian out-patient subjects formed the control group. VDR (FokI, BsmI and TaqI) gene polymorphism (rs2228570, rs1544410, rs731236) was determined by TaqMan® SNP Genotyping. The Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium (HWE) - p> 0.05 was in all studied polymorphisms. Deviations from the HWE were not found. There were no differences between the study group and the control group. No difference was found when the groups were compared in terms of age or the Gleason score.