Endocrine Abstracts

Background: The prostate cancer (CaP) is among the most commonly diagnosed cancers, accounting for about 20% of all newly diagnosed cancers. Subject of recent studies is the role of vitamin D in the pathogenesis of CaP. Literature data speculated about the role of vitamin D in the progression of Cap. In addition, several studies have shown an association between VDR gene polymorphism FokI and CaP especially in the Asian population.

Objective: The aim of this study is to compare two populations: CaP vs benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), to study both the potential role of serum 25-OH vitamin D (25 (OH) D3) and assess the relationship between serum 25 (OH) D3 and VDR gene polymorphisms FokI and TaqI and between polymorphic sites and the risk of developing cancer.

Material and method: Two hundred patients (aged 41 to 83 years) in whom biopsies revealed CaP or BHP were enrolled in the present study. The concentration of 25 (OH) D3 was measured by chemiluminescence immunoassay and polymorphisms were detected by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP).

Results and conclusion: The results showed a significant association (P=0.002) between the genotype FF FokI polymorphism, responsible for the translation of a shorter protein and therefore more functional than that normal one, in the BPH population compared to CaP, as well as the genotypes of the TaqI polymorphism (P=0.009). Serum 25 (OH) D3 did not showed significant correlation respect to polymorphisms and compared to disease, although the concentration was low (<30 ng/mL) in 97% of the analyzed samples of the two populations. Concluding the CaP is associated with a less functional VDR variation due to a lower frequency of the genotype FF and for the first time there was evidence that the tt genotype of TaqI polymorphism (synonymous polymorphism) is associated negatively to the disease.

Declaration of interest: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest that could be perceived as prejudicing the impartiality of the research project.

Funding: This research did not receive any specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sector.