ELAC2/HPC2 polymorphisms, prostate-specific antigen levels, and prostate cancer

Abstract

Background: The ELAC2 gene has been proposed to be a prostate cancer susceptibility gene and is being referred to as HPC2, in part because three case-control studies suggested that two common polymorphisms (Ser217Leu and Ala541Thr) are associated with risk. However, four subsequent larger studies have not confirmed this association. In five of the seven total studies, subject selection was influenced by prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels. We examined the association and possible effect of subject selection in a larger study and a meta-analysis. Methods: In a population-based study in Australia, 825 case patients and 732 control subjects were genotyped for the Ser217Leu and Ala541Thr poly..