Polymorphisms of prostate-specific antigen gene promoter: determination from cord blood collected on filter paper

Recent studies have shown that a single nucleotide polymorphism of A/G substitution in the androgen response element-1 (ARE-1) of the promoter for the prostate-specific antigen gene is a biomarker of prostate cancer. Portugese men with prostate cancer have a high percentage (43%) of the AA polymorphism of the gene (41% AG, 16% GG), whereas healthy Japanese men have a much lower rate (5%) of the AA polymorphism, (31% AG, 64% GG). The goal of the present study was to see whether or not the Chinese also have a low rate of the AA polymorphism. This study used 94 specimens of cord blood that were the leftover waste of cord blood banking. The samples were collected from Chinese infants onto filter paper, dried, and shipped to Rochester, MN, USA, for PCR amplification and analysis. The observed rate of the AA polymorphism in the samples was very low (5%), with 26% AG, 69% GG. The low incidence of AA polymorphism appears to be a trait of Asians that may reduce their risk of prostate cancer.