GGC and StuI polymorphism on the androgen receptor gene in endometrial cancer patients

Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2005 Apr 1;329(1):100-4. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2005.01.104.

Abstract

Androgens have an anti-proliferative effect on endometrial cells. Human androgen receptor (AR) gene contains two polymorphic short tandem repeats of GGC and CAG, and a single-nucleotide polymorphism on exon 1 that is recognized by the restriction enzyme, StuI. Prior studies have shown that the lengths of the CAG repeat are inversely and linearly related to AR activity and associated with endometrial cancer. However, little is known about the GGC repeat and the StuI polymorphism of the AR gene. Thus, we investigated whether these AR polymorphisms are risk factors for endometrial cancer. To test this hypothesis, the genetic distributions of these polymorphisms were investigated in blood samples from endometrial cancer patients and healthy controls. The allelic and genotyping profiles were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP), and direct DNA sequencing, and analyzed statistically. The GGC repeat was significantly longer in endometrial cancer patients as compared to normal healthy controls. In general, an increased risk of endometrial cancer was found with increasing GGC repeat. The relative risk for the 17 GGC repeat was greater than 4, as compared to controls. However, the StuI polymorphism was not significantly different between patients and controls. The findings suggest that increased numbers of GGC repeat on the AR gene may be a risk factor for endometrial cancer.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Alleles
  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Deoxyribonucleases, Type II Site-Specific / metabolism
  • Endometrial Neoplasms / blood*
  • Endometrial Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Polymorphism, Genetic*
  • Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide*
  • Receptors, Androgen / genetics*
  • Risk

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Receptors, Androgen
  • AGGCCT-specific type II deoxyribonucleases
  • Deoxyribonucleases, Type II Site-Specific