CYP17 gene polymorphisms and prostate cancer risk: a meta-analysis based on 38 independent studies

The results of recent published studies focusing on CYP17 polymorphisms in prostate cancer (PCa) susceptibility are often conflicting. We performed a meta-analysis based on 38 independent studies to evaluate the association.

Data were collected from the following electronic databases: PubMed, Excerpta Medica Database, and Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, with the last report up to September 2010. Meta-analysis was conducted in a fixed/random effect model.

Thirty-eight independent studies including 34,782 cases and 38,626 controls on the association of CYP17 gene polymorphisms with PCa risk in different ethnic groups were identified. The meta-analysis was performed for five polymorphisms: rs743572 (A1/A2, 38 studies), rs6162 (C/T, 3 studies), rs619824 (C/A, 4 studies), rs2486758 (T/C, 4 studies), and rs10883782 (A/G, 4 studies). When all groups were pooled, we did not detect the association of rs743572 polymorphism with PCa risk. In the subgroup analysis, a significant association of rs743572 polymorphism and PCa was found in Black population (A2/A2 vs. A1/A1 + A2/A1: OR = 1.70, 95% CI = 1.08-2.69, P = 0.02), but not in Caucasian or Asian population. For other polymorphisms, we found that rs619824 polymorphism was associated with a significant decreased risk of PCa (A vs. C: OR = 0.95, 95% CI = 0.92-0.99, P = 0.01), and rs2486758 polymorphism was associated with a significant increased risk of PCa (C vs. T: OR = 1.07, 95% CI = 1.03-1.12, P = 0.002).

This meta-analysis suggests that rs743572 polymorphism is associated with PCa risk in Black population, but not in Caucasian or Asian population. Moreover, our study suggests that rs619824 and rs2486758 polymorphisms are associated with PCa risk.