Abstract for presentation at 11th International Congress of Human Genetics

Association of a newly identified single nucleotide polymorphism (G148T) in the human kallikrein 10 (KLK10) gene with prostate cancer susceptibility

  • Mr Robert Smith, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
  • Ms Kristy Sanderson, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
  • Ms Kimberly Hinze, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
  • Dr John Yaxley, Brisbane Private Hospital, Brisbane, Australia
  • Dr Amanda Spurdle, Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Brisbane, Australia
  • Prof Judith Clements, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
  • Dr Mary-Anne Kedda, Queensland Institute of Technology, Australia

    • Introduction: Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men and in Australia, 10,000 men are diagnosed with the disease each year. The kallikreins are a family of serine proteases that are encoded by the kallikrein (KLK) genes on chromosome 19q13 and have been implicated in the aetiology of a number of diseases, including prostate cancer. Kallikrein 10 (KLK10) is thought to be a tumour suppressor gene, as it is frequently down-regulated in cancer tissue and cancer cell lines. A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) has been identified in the KLK10 gene (G148T, Ala50Ser) and a previous study (Bharaj et al. The Prostate 2002; 51:35-41) suggested that the T allele was associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer in a small group of men (n = 49). We have carried out a case-control study in a larger Australian population, in order to confirm whether this polymorphism is associated with prostate cancer susceptibility.
    Methods: Men previously diagnosed with prostate cancer (n = 230) were recruited through urologists in Brisbane, and healthy male controls (n = 210) were recruited through the Australian Red Cross Blood Services. Blood samples and basic epidemiological data were collected from all participants, and clinical and pathology data were collected for all cases. KLK10 genotypes were generated using PCR-RFLP analysis and logistic regression analysis was used to assess the association between the G148T SNP and risk of prostate cancer, as well as other socio-demographic and clinical parameters.
    Results: Preliminary results in this Australian population suggest that the GG genotype is more common in men with prostate cancer (48%) compared to healthy controls (33%).
    Discussion: The functional significance of the G148T polymorphism in KLK10 has still to be determined, however it has previously been suggested that it is associated with prostate cancer susceptibility. This case-control study, and future functional studies, will help to elucidate the role of this polymorphism in prostate cancer.

    Conference Organiser - ICMS Pty Ltd