Association of Single-Nucleotide Polymorphisms, rs693 and rs1042031, in the APOB Gene with the Risk of Prostatic...

Examining the relationship of the single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) rs693C>T and rs1042031G>A in the APOB gene with the risks of prostatic diseases and identifying candidate common genetic markers for prostate cancer (PCa) and benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) in Lebanese men.

Blood leukocyte DNA from 177 individuals (including 63 healthy subjects, 59 individuals with confirmed PCa, and 55 individuals with clinical BPH) was genotyped using the PCR-RFLP method. Associations were assessed by calculating odds ratios (ORs) based on allele frequencies and genotype distributions in the control and affected groups. A p-value <0.05 was considered significant.

The genotypic ratios for four of the eight categories for the two SNPs were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The X allele of rs693 was more common in the BPH group (p=0.03), PCa group (p=0.09), and the PCa+BPH combined affected group (p=0.03) compared to the control group. The E allele of rs1042031 was more common in the PCa group (p=0.03) but not in the BPH group (p=0.19) or the PCa+BPH combined affected group (p=0.37). Combination genotype and haplotype analyses indicated a higher prevalence of the X and E alleles and the XE haplotype in the affected groups compared to the control group (p < 0.05).

The X allele of rs693, the E allele of rs1042031, and the XE haplotype are potentially associated with increased risk of PCA and BPH among Lebanese men. Further functional studies are necessary to validate these findings. The small sample size and the sampling from a single ethnic group are limitations of this study.