Objective: To study human androgen receptor (hAR) mutations and their relationship to the clinical and pathological characteristics of patients with prostate cancer, as the mechanisms by which tumour cells escape androgen control and grow independently of hormone stimulation are unclear.
Patients and methods: In all, 67 radical prostatectomy specimens were sequenced genomically (mean age of the patients, 64 years; median prostate-specific antigen level 15 ng/mL; 34% T1 and 66% T2). Of the 66 patients who had a valid follow-up, 28 (43%) had biochemical progression during the follow-up.
Results: There was mutation in the hAR in 11 patients (16%); nine types of different mutations were identified, only one of which was described previously in patients with prostate cancer. Patients with mutated hAR had statistically lower Gleason scores (P = 0.004) than had patients with native hAR.
Conclusion: hAR mutations have a different effect on the disease course in patients with localized than in those with metastatic prostatic cancer.