Objectives: To use the Bst U I polymorphism as a genetic marker in the search for the association between patients with prostate cancer and normal control subjects. The formation or progression of prostate cancer is presumed to be associated with a polymorphism of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) gene. The most frequently seen polymorphism is Bst U I (C to T) located at the -460th nucleotide upstream of the VEGF gene.
Methods: A normal control group of 119 healthy people and 96 patients with prostate cancer were examined. The polymorphism was seen after polymerase chain reaction-based restriction analysis.
Results: The analysis revealed significant differences between normal individuals and patients with cancer (P <0.001). Also, the distribution of the "TT" homozygote in the patient group was greater than that in the control group. The odds ratio per copy of the "T" allele was 2.3 (95% confidence interval 1.4 to 3.8) and was 2.2 (95% CI 1.3 to 3.8) when adjusted for age. No statistically significant differences in clinical stage or grade were found. We also categorized the 54 patients who received hormonal therapy into response and nonresponse groups, but no statistically significant differences between these two groups were revealed (P = 0.110, Fisher's exact test).
Conclusions: The Bst U I polymorphism of the VEGF gene is a suitable genetic marker of prostate cancer but cannot be used in the prediction of the outcome of patients who have received hormonal therapy.