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.

KEYWORDS:
Prostate cancer; Single nucleotide polymorphism; Plasminogen activator; Urokinase; Genetics