The relationship between the urokinase-type plasminogen activator gene Pro141Leu polymorphism and patients with prostate cancer.

OBJECTIVE

Although many genes associated with prostate cancer have been identified, there are still many cases of prostate cancer whose genetics have not been identified. The urokinase-type plasminogen activator gene is thought to play a key role in cancer invasion and metastasis. The Pro141Leu polymorphism may be involved in the development of prostate cancer, although genetic evidence is lacking.

METHODS

We used the real time polymerase chain reaction based TaqMan assay to investigate whether the urokinase-type plasminogen activator gene Pro141Leu polymorphism is associated with prostate cancer patients and healthy controls. urokinase-type plasminogen activator, urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor, and prostate-specific antigen antigens were assayed by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method.

RESULTS

We found no significant differences between the cancer and control populations in terms of genotype distribution (CC, CT, and TT). Furthermore, we found no association between the urokinase-type plasminogen activator gene Pro141Leu polymorphism and cancer risk in prostate cancer patients.

CONCLUSION

This is the first study to investigate the association between the rs2227564 polymorphism and prostate cancer. Although the urokinase-type plasminogen activator gene Pro141Leu polymorphism has been reported to be a risk factor for some cancers, our findings suggest that the urokinase-type plasminogen activator gene Pro141Leu polymorphism is not an important genetic risk factor for prostate cancer.