The CAG trinucleotide repeat length in the androgen receptor does not predict the early onset of prostate cancer

Mir, K., Edwards, J. , Paterson, P.J. , Hehir, M., Underwood, M.A. and Bartlett, J.M.S. (2002) The CAG trinucleotide repeat length in the androgen receptor does not predict the early onset of prostate cancer. BJU International, 90(6), pp. 573-578. (doi: 10.1046/j.1464-410X.2002.02981.x)

Abstract

Objective To relate the repeat length of the androgen-receptor CAG trinucleotide to the age of onset of prostate cancer, stage and grade of disease. Patients and methods After obtaining ethical approval, 265 patients with locally confined or locally advanced/metastatic prostate cancer were identified and evaluated for age at diagnosis (less than 65 years and greater than 75 years). DNA was extracted from peripheral blood lymphocytes and 1 mug aliquots subjected to polymerase chain reaction using fluorescently labelled primers. Samples were then run on an ABI 377 gene scan analysis gel with an internal molecular weight marker. The length of the CAG repeat was determined by comparing the gene scan product size to samples where the CAG repeat length had been quantified using direct sequencing. The Kruskal-Wallis, Mann-Whitney and Wilcoxon two sample tests were used to analyse the data. Results The mean (range) length of the CAG repeat in the androgen receptor was 22.2 (10-31) in the younger and 22.5 (16-32) in the older group, and was not statistically different. There was no significant association between the CAG repeat length and the age of onset of prostate cancer (P = 0.568) or with stage (P = 0.577) and grade (P = 0.891) of prostate cancer. Conclusion These results suggest that there is no correlation between the androgen receptor CAG repeat length and the age of onset, stage and grade of prostate cancer, confirming recent doubts from other similar studies of a suggested correlation between shorter androgen receptor CAG repeat and early onset and aggressiveness of prostate cancer.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Paterson, Mr Paul and Edwards, Professor Joanne and Underwood, Mr Mark
• Authors: Mir, K., Edwards, J., Paterson, P.J., Hehir, M., Underwood, M.A., and Bartlett, J.M.S.
• Subjects: R Medicine > RC Internal medicine > RC0254 Neoplasms. Tumors. Oncology (including Cancer)
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Cancer Sciences
• Journal Name: BJU International
• Publisher: Blackwell Publishing
• ISSN: 1464-4096
• Copyright Holders: © Copyright 2002 BJU International
• First Published: First published in BJU International 90(6):573-578
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher