Somatic mutations throughout the entire mitochondrial genome are associated with elevated PSA levels in prostate cancer patients.

ABSTRACT: The genetic etiology of prostate cancer, the most common form of male cancer in western countries, is complex and the interplay of disease genes with environmental factors is far from being understood. Studies on somatic mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations have become an important aspect of cancer research because these mutations might have functional consequences and/or might serve as biosensors for tumor detection and progression. We sequenced the entire mitochondrial genome (16,569 bp) from 30 prospectively collected pairs of macrodissected cancerous and benign cells from prostate cancer patients and compared their genetic variability. Given recent concerns regarding the authenticity of newly discovered mtDNA mutations, we implemented a high-quality procedure for mtDNA whole-genome sequ

SUBMITTER: Kloss-Brandstatter A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2997360 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature