Germline mutations in HOXB13 and prostate-cancer risk.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Family history is a significant risk factor for prostate cancer, although the molecular basis for this association is poorly understood. Linkage studies have implicated chromosome 17q21-22 as a possible location of a prostate-cancer susceptibility gene.

Methods

We screened more than 200 genes in the 17q21-22 region by sequencing germline DNA from 94 unrelated patients with prostate cancer from families selected for linkage to the candidate region. We tested family members, additional case subjects, and control subjects to characterize the frequency of the identified mutations.

Results

Probands from four families were discovered to have a rare but recurrent mutation (G84E) in HOXB13 (rs138213197), a homeobox transcription factor gene that is important in pro

SUBMITTER: Ewing CM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3779870 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature