COX-2 promoter polymorphisms and the association with prostate cancer risk in South African men

• Published in: Carcinogenesis (New York) 2008-12, Vol.29 (12), p.2347-2350
• Main Authors: Fernandez, Pedro, de Beer, Pieter M., van der Merwe, Lize, Heyns, Chris F.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: African Continental Ancestry Group - genetics; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biological and medical sciences; Carcinogenesis, carcinogens and anticarcinogens; Case-Control Studies; Cyclooxygenase 2 - genetics; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; Genotype; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Haplotypes; Humans; Linkage Disequilibrium; Male; Male genital diseases; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Nephrology. Urinary tract diseases; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; Promoter Regions, Genetic - genetics; Prostatic Neoplasms - genetics; Risk Factors; South Africa; Tumors; Tumors of the urinary system; Urinary tract. Prostate gland
• ISSN: 0143-3334; 1460-2180
• DOI: 10.1093/carcin/bgn245

Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) converts arachidonic acid to prostaglandins, which are important mediators of cell proliferation and inflammation. Evidence indicates that COX-2 plays a role in carcinogenesis and that it is over-expressed in prostate tumours. We investigated the role of COX-2 variants in prostate cancer in a case–control study of South African Coloured men, consisting of 151 cases and 134 controls. The genotype frequencies of four single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the COX-2 promoter were initially determined in 50 control subjects. One SNP, rs20417 (−899G>C), was monomorphic and excluded from further investigation. Three SNPs, rs3918304 (−1285A>G), rs20415 (−1265C>T) and rs5270 (−297C>G), were genotyped in all the case patients and control subjects. The −1285 G-allele and −1265 T-allele were associated with increased risk of prostate cancer [odds ratio (OR) = 3.53; confidence interval (CI) = 2.14–5.90; P