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Purpose: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) have been implicated in progression and metastases of different tumors. The balance between the MMPs and their natural inhibitors (tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases; TIMP) seem to be an important factor related to its role. The purpose of this study was to evaluate polymorphisms in the MMP-3 and TIMP-3 genes for their associations with prostate cancer (PCa) risk in North Indians., Materials and Methods: Genotypes were determined by PCR-RFLP (Polymerase Chain Reaction Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism) method in 150 PCa patients and 200 age matched controls of similar ethnicity., Results: We found significant association in the MMP-3(1171)5A/6A and TIMP-3 (1298) C/T polymorphism with PCa risk. Variant genotype (5A/5A) of MMP-3(1171)5A/6A polymorphism had a high PCa risk (p=0.037, OR=3.52, 95%CI=1.08-11.5). Individuals with TIMP-3 (1298) CT genotype as well as T allele showed reduced risk of PCa (p<0.001; OR=0.31; 95%CI=0.18-0.52, and p=0.001; OR=0.49; 95%CI=0.32-0.75). This effect was even more evident in case of T allele carrier (CT+TT) (p<0.001; OR=0.36; 95%CI=0.22-0.59). Overall no significant association was observed statistically in MMP-3 and TIMP-3 with any of the grading stages and smoking habits in PCa. Haplotype analysis of MMP-3 showed that A-5A-A was associated with three folds (OR=3.06; 95%CI=1.71-5.47; p<0.001) increased risk in PCa patients., Conclusion: This is the first reported association between polymorphisms in the MMP-3 and TIMP-3 gene and PCa risk and supports the hypothesis that the protease/antiprotease balance has an important role. Due to the small sample size further investigations need to be done to prove a statistical significant correlation between the MMP/TIMP expression and clinicopathological parameters., (© 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: Carcinogens causes DNA damage, including oxidative lesions that are removed efficiently by the base excision repair (BER) pathway. Variations in BER genes may reduce DNA repair capacity, leading to development of urological cancers., Methods: This study included 195 prostate cancer (PCa) and 212 bladder cancer (BC) patients and 250 controls who had been frequency matched by age, sex, and ethnicity. We genotyped XRCC1 Exon 6 (C>T), 9 (G>A), 10 (G>A), OGG1 Exon 7 (C>G) and APE1 Exon 5 (T>G) genes polymorphism using PCR-RFLP and ARMS., Results: GA of XRCC1 Exon 9 demonstrated increased risk with PCa as well as in BC (p=0.001; p=0.006). Similarly variant containing genotype revealed association with PCa (p=0.031). Haplotype of XRCC1 also associated with significant risk for PCa and BC. The APE1 GG genotype showed a decreased risk of BC (OR=0.25; p=0.017). Variant genotype GG of OGG1 demonstrated significant risk with BC (p=0.028)., Conclusions: Our observations suggested increased risk for PCa and BC in case of GA genotype for XRCC1, and variant GG in case of OGG1. However APE1 GG genotype conferred a protective association with BC susceptibility. Larger studies and the more SNPs in the same pathway are needed to verify these findings., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background and Aims: The importance of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their tissue inhibitors (TIMPs) in tumor progression is well documented. MMP2/TIMP2 system has a significant impact on the development and progression of cancer and genetic polymorphisms in the promoters of MMP2 (-1306C/T, 735C/T) and TIMP2 (-418G/A, -303C/T) are correlated with decreased enzyme activity. We sought to determine whether genetic polymorphisms in MMP2 and TIMP2 polymorphisms may be associated with varying risk of prostate cancer (PCa) in men in North India., Methods: Genotyping was done by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism method in 190 histologically confirmed PCa patients and 200 unrelated, healthy, age-matched individuals of similar ethnicity., Results: Patients with MMP2 (-1306) CT genotype as well as T allele were at higher risk of PCa (p = 0.018; OR = 1.68 and p = 0.015; OR = 1.52). This effect was even more evident in the case of the T allele carrier (CT + TT) (p = 0.011; OR = 1.71). MMP2 (735) C>T, TIMP2 (-418) G>C and TIMP2 (-303) C>T polymorphism demonstrated no association. However, TIMP2 (-418) GC was found to be involved in progression of PCa but not in initiation. Haplotype results demonstrated that MMP2 (1306T-735C) and TIMP2 (418G-303T) were associated with a 1.5- and 1.8-fold increased risk, respectively., Conclusions: Our data indicated that MMP2-1306C>T gene polymorphism contributes to PCa susceptibility. These findings suggested MMP2 variants as a predictor of PCa progression risk among North Indian men. We assume that analysis of these gene polymorphisms can help identify patient subgroups at high risk of poor disease outcome., (Copyright © 2012 IMSS. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: Bladder cancer (BC) is one of the most widespread cancers afflicting men and women and also has major philosophical impact on health care worldwide. Despite elaborate characterization of the risk factors and treatment options, BC is still a major epidemiological problem worldwide and its incidence lingers to upswing each year. Over the last three decades, intravesical immunotherapy with the biological response modifier Mycobacterium bovis-Bacillus Calmette Guerin (BCG) has been established as the most effective adjuvant treatment for averting local recurrences and tumor progression following transurethral resection of non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer., Design and Methods: PUBMED database was searched for articles, and manuscripts were selected that provided data regarding the correlation of BCG therapy and its response with different cytokine gene variants., Results: It is not clear how Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) works to treat BC. It may stimulate an immune response or cause inflammation of the bladder wall that destroys cancer cells within the bladder. Lot of reports indicated the correlation of various cytokines with respect to BCG therapy in BC, but the exact mechanism is under debate., Conclusion: Research continues to establish the most effectual strain of BCG and the best dosage schedule for the treatment for bladder cancer but, on the other hand, a very critical part of this therapy to find out the correlation of different cytokine with BCG therapy, which will give a better insights not only the mechanism but also a better therapeutic options.

Objective: To investigate, by genotyping CASP8 (-652 6N del/ins) and CASP9 (-1263 A > G; -293 19N del/ins), whether inactivation of apoptosis by genetic polymorphism of caspases 8 and 9 play an integral role in the mechanism of cancer development. To investigate the role of these polymorphisms in susceptibility to early development of hormone refractory prostate cancer., Patients and Methods: The study included 175 histologically confirmed cases of prostate cancer and 198 age and ethnicity matched healthy controls. CASP9-1263 A > G polymorphism was genotyped using the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method. CASP9-293 del/ins and CASP8-652 del/ins polymorphisms were genotyped and the deletion pattern analysed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis., Results: Our results demonstrated that presence of CASP9-1263 G allele was associated with reduced risk for prostate cancer (odds ratio 0.6, 95%CI 0.39-0.92, P= 0.02). Other variant CASP9 was not associated with prostate cancer risk. Coincidentally, the presence of CASP9-1263 G allele was associated with increased risk for progression of prostate cancer to bone metastasis (odds ratio -2.28, 95%CI 1.14-4.53, P= 0.02). CASP8-652 (+/-) genotype was associated with increased hazard for early development of hormone refractory prostate cancer (hazard ratio 2.44, 95%CI 1.2-5.85, P= 0.045)., Conclusion: Our results support the hypothesis that variants of CASP9 may influence the susceptibility to prostate cancer and its progression to bone metastasis. CASP8 polymorphism may influence the progression of prostate cancer disease to a hormone refractory state., (© 2010 THE AUTHORS. JOURNAL COMPILATION © 2010 BJU INTERNATIONAL.)

Background: Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is an enzyme involved in the synthesis of prostaglandins and thromboxanes, which are regulators of processes that are relevant to cancer development. It is involved in carcinogenesis, immune response suppression, apoptosis inhibition, angiogenesis, and tumor cell invasion and metastasis. The gene for COX-2, designated as prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2 (PTGS-2), carries polymorphisms, such as -765G>C, 1195G>A in the promoter region, and 8473T>C in the 3'-untranslated region (UTR), which have been associated with susceptibility to malignant disease., Methods: We undertook a case-control study of 212 urothelial bladder cancer (UBC) cases and 250 controls to investigate the association between COX-2 polymorphism and bladder cancer susceptibility, using the polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method and also investigated gene-environment interactions., Results: Cox-2 765G>C, a variant(C) allele carrier, was at an increased risk of UBC (odds ratio [OR] = 1.90; P = .004); however, -1195G>A; -1290A>G; and 3'UTR 8473T>C polymorphisms of COX-2 gene were not significantly associated with UBC. 765G>C also was associated with the invasive stage of a bladder tumor (OR = 2.73; P = .033). High risk for UBC also was observed with respect to COX-2 haplotypes C-765T8473A-1195A-1290 (OR = 3.47; P = .014). In case-only analysis, COX-2 765 variant allele carrier genotypes also showed an increased risk among former and current smokers (OR = 3.06; P = .041 and OR = 4.39; P = .032, respectively)., Conclusion: COX-2 -765G>C polymorphism confers UBC susceptibility particularly in smokers and in patients with invasive tumors. 765C allele carrier genotypes also are influenced with a high risk of recurrence in Bacillus Calmette-Guérin-treated patients. Collectively, these findings confirm that the COX-2 -765G>C polymorphism is a risk factor for the development of bladder cancer and can provide a plausible mechanistic explanation. Further validation in large population-based studies is needed., (Copyright © 2011 Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: To investigate the association between two Xeroderma pigmentosum group C polymorphism (XPC Lys939Gln and insertion/deletion PAT -/+ in intron 9) and bladder cancer (BC) susceptibility., Materials and Methods: Genotyping was performed in 208 BC patients and 245 controls by PCR-RFLP method., Results: XPC PAT +/+ genotype was associated with elevated risk of BC (p = 0.021, OR = 2.49). XPC Lys939Gln AC + CC genotype was significantly associated with risk in invasive stage of BC (p = 0.041, OR = 2.52). Haplotype analysis revealed that variant genotypes C of XPC Lys939Gln and + of PAT, C+ were significantly associated with risk of BC (p = 0.004, OR = 1.70). The CC genotype of Lys939Gln was associated with high risk for recurrence in BCG-treated patients (HR = 3.21, p = 0.036) thus, showing reduced recurrence-free survival (AC + CC/AA = 36/60 months; log rank p = 0.045)., Conclusion: Polymorphisms and haplotypes in XPC appear to influence susceptibility to BC risk. The variant C allele at Lys939Gln may be responsible for early recurrence in BCG-treated patients.

Background and Aims: Chemokines and transcription factor NF-kappaB play a pivotal role in development of carcinoma of the bladder (CaB). The present study was conducted to analyze the association of chemokines IL-8 -251 T>A and +678 C>T and NF-kappaB -94 (ATTG) insertion/deletion polymorphisms with the risk of CaB and outcome after bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) immunotherapy in a cohort of northern India., Methods: Histologically confirmed 205 CaB cases and 270 controls were included. Of these, 71 patients were treated with BCG immunotherapy. Genotyping was done using allele-specific PCR methodology., Results: The variant genotype (AA) of IL-8 -251 polymorphism was associated with more than 2-fold risk of CaB (OR 2.12; p = 0.003; 95% CI 1.28-3.52). None of the other genotypes showed association with CaB risk. Subsequently, the diplotype -251A/+678T demonstrated a 1.8-fold increased risk for CaB (OR 1.84, 95% CI 1.37-2.47). Furthermore, -251 AA genotypes reduced the risk of recurrence after BCG immunotherapy (AA; HR 0.12; 95% CI 0.04-0.41). Subsequently, improved recurrence-free survival (mean recurrence-free survival for GG, GA and AA genotypes was 24, 39 and 53 months respectively). Similarly, NF-kappaB ATTG Ins/Ins genotype was at reduced risk of recurrence after BCG treatment compared to Del/Del genotype, which exhibited a 2.5-fold increased risk of recurrence in patients treated with BCG immunotherapy (HR, 2.53; 95% CI 1.00-6.36). Subsequently, mean recurrence-free survival (Ins/Ins, 41; Ins/Del, 44 and Del/Del, 10 months; log rank, 0.030)., Conclusions: Our results suggested that the IL-8 -251 T>A polymorphism may be a relevant host susceptibility factor for bladder carcinoma development and may influence outcome after BCG immunotherapy. Similarly, NF-kappaB ATTG polymorphism may also modify risk-free survival of BCG-treated patients., (Copyright 2010 IMSS. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The Kashmir Valley has an elevated incidence rate of esophageal cancer (EC). Several environmental and genetic factors have been suspected for development of EC. A case-control study was performed in 135 EC patients and 195 healthy controls to analyze association of polymorphisms in glutathione S-transferase (GST) mu (GSTM1), GST theta (GSTT1), GST pi (GSTP1), GSTM3, Cytochrome P450 (CYP)1A1, and CYP2E1 genes with susceptibility to EC as well as their interaction with environmental factors such as smoking and high consumption of salted tea in Kashmir valley. All subjects were genotyped through polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism. Data was statistically analyzed using the chi-square test and logistic regression model. Results showed that GSTP1313 val/val and CYP2E1c1c2 genotypes imparted risk for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and esophageal adenocarcinoma [EADC; odds ratio (OR) = 3.24, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.30-8.05; OR = 4.20, 95% CI = 1.65-10.70], respectively. GSTM3AB genotype/B allele was found to be associated with low risk for EC. Tobacco smoking through hukka (water pipe) and consumption of salted tea itself were high risk factors for developing EC (OR = 21.44, 95% CI = 11.63-39.54; OR = 14.86, 95% CI = 8.41-26.24), and the risks were modulated through the interaction of GSTM3AB, GSTP1val/val genotypes. In conclusion, GSTP1val/val and CYP2E1c1c2 genotypes/c2 allele increased the risk of ESCC and EADC, respectively, in the Kashmiri population; whereas GSTM3AB genotype imparted lower risk for both ESCC and EADC.

The objective of the study was to investigate the association of Xeroderma Pigmentoum group C (XPC) Lys939Gln (A > C) and poly (AT) insertion deletion (PAT -/+) gene polymorphism with the risk of cervical cancer. We enrolled 220 cervical cancer patients and 237 healthy individuals. Polymorphism for XPC gene (Lys939Gln, PAT -/+) was genotyped by polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism method. XPC Lys939Gln CC genotype was associated with elevated risk of cervical cancer (OR = 2.15, p = 0.036). CC genotype of Lys939Gln (OR = 3.68; p = 0.02) and +/+ genotype of PAT (OR = 7.99; p = 0.01) were observed to have statistically significant elevated risk in stage IV of cervical cancer. Among tobacco users, carriers of the +/+ genotype of PAT showed a borderline significance (OR = 3.72, p = 0.032). Haplotypes A+ and C- (A > C of Lys939Gln, --> + of PAT) were significantly associated with higher susceptibility to cervical cancer (OR = 2.01, p = 0.005 and OR = 1.76, p = 0.002, respectively). Polymorphisms and haplotypes in XPC appear to influence cervical cancer risk and may modify risk attributable to tobacco usage.

Purpose: The proinflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor-alpha has an important role in the pathogenesis of prostate cancer. Single nucleotide polymorphisms in the promoter region of the TNF-A gene alter tumor necrosis factor-alpha transcription. Thus, we studied the association of 4 SNPs in the promoter region of TNF-A gene, including -1031T>C, -863C>A, -857 C>T and -308 G>A, in a North Indian cohort of patients with prostate cancer., Materials and Methods: The study involved 453 subjects. All 197 case and 256 control samples were genotyped for the 4 promoter polymorphisms in the TNF-A gene using allele specific polymerase chain reaction and polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism., Results: Results showed an increased risk of prostate cancer for the TNF-A -1031 CC genotype (OR 2.01, p = 0.03). No significant association was observed for the TNF-A -863 C>A, TNF-A -857 C>T or -308 G>A polymorphisms. Haplotype analysis revealed that TNF-A -1031C-863C-857T-308G was significantly associated with prostate cancer risk (OR 2.22, p = 0.013). Moreover, the TNF-A -1031 C and -857 T alleles were associated with higher tumor grade and an increased risk of tumor progression and metastasis., Conclusions: These results show that TNF-A polymorphisms have an important role in prostate cancer pathogenesis. Results are in line with findings in other studies from the West and to our knowledge for the first time from India indicating the involvement of immune system genes in prostate cancer pathogenesis.

Identifying risk factors for human cancers should consider combinations of genetic variations and environmental exposures. Several polymorphisms in DNA repair genes have impact on repair and cancer susceptibility. We focused on X-ray repair cross-complementing group 1 (XRCC1), Xeroderma pigmentosum D (XPD) and apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease (APE1) as these are most extensively studied in cancer. Present study was conducted to determine distribution of XRCC1 C26304T, G27466A, G23591A, APE1 T2197G and XPD A35931C gene polymorphisms in North Indian population and compare with different populations globally. PCR-based analysis was conducted in 209 normal healthy individuals of similar ethnicity. Allelic frequencies in wild type of XRCC1 C26304T were 91.1% C(Arg); G27466A 62.9% G(Arg); G23591A 60.3% G(Arg); APE1 T2197G 75.1% T(Asp) and XPD A35931C 71.8% A(Lys). The variant allele frequency were 8.9% T(Trp) in XRCC1 C26304T; 37.1% A(His) in G27466A; 39.7% A(Gln) in G23591A; 24.9% G(Glu) in APE1 and 28.2% C(Gln) in XPD respectively. We further compared frequency distribution for these genes with various published studies in different ethnicity. Our results suggest that frequency in these DNA repair genes exhibit distinctive pattern in India that could be attributed to ethnicity variation. This could assist in high-risk screening of humans exposed to environmental carcinogens and cancer predisposition in different ethnic groups.

Objectives: To explore the association between xerodema pigmentosum group D (XPD) Asp(312)Asn and Lys(751)Gln and apurinic apyrimidic endonuclease 1 (APE1) Asp(148)Glu gene polymorphism and risk of bladder cancer (BC) susceptibility., Methods: This hospital-based case-control study included 206 patients with newly diagnosed bladder transitional cell carcinoma and 250 cancer-free controls who had been frequency matched by age, sex, and ethnicity. Polymorphisms in XPD Asp(312)Asn and Lys(751)Gln and APE1 Asp(148)Glu gene using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism and amplification refractory mutation system were genotyped., Results: The XPD Asp(312)Asn AA genotype was associated with an elevated risk of BC (odds ratio [OR] 3.30, P = .001.) The AA genotype was significantly associated with nonmuscle-invasive BC (OR 4.62, corrected P = .003). Both the heterozygous GA and the homozygous AA was associated with a greater risk of low-grade (grade 1) BC (OR 2.51, corrected P = .006 and OR 5.21, corrected P = .003, respectively). The APE1 GG genotype showed a decreased risk of BC (OR 0.27, P = .027.) Haplotype AC (codon 312A-codon 751C) of XPD demonstrated an association with a greater susceptibility to BC (OR 2.16, correct P = .0008)., Conclusions: Reduced DNA repair capacity due to XPD Asp(312)Asn AA genotype might be a risk factor for BC. The AA genotype predisposed to a greater risk at the initial stage and grade of BC. The APE1 148GG genotype conferred a protective association with BC susceptibility.

Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) play an important role in detoxification of various toxic compounds like carcinogens in cigarette smoke and tobacco by conjugating to toxic compounds and inactivating their hazardous effect. Variation in Glutathione S-Transferases (GSTs) genes may alter the catalytic efficiency of GST isoenzymes leading to potential increase in cancer susceptibility due to various carcinogens. We therefore, investigated association of GSTM1, GSTM3 and GSTT1 variants with susceptibility to benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) and cigarette, tobacco chewing and alcohol consumption as confounding factors in 141 BPH and 184 healthy controls. Results showed increased risk for BPH susceptibility in patients with GSTM1 null genotype (OR-2.03, p = 0.013) and smoking (OR-3.12, p = 0.028), tobacco chewing (OR-2.54, p = 0.039) and alcohol habits (OR-3.39, p = 0.010). Null genotype of GSTM1 with cigarette, tobacco and alcohol habits predisposed increased risk for BPH.

Cytokines mediate many immune and inflammatory responses contributing to tumorigenesis. The present study evaluated polymorphisms of IL4, IL6, and TNF (previously TNFA) genes influencing risk in development of transitional cell carcinoma of bladder and recurrence after bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) immunotherapy. The study included 136 unrelated histopathologically confirmed cases and 200 population-based controls. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral leukocytes and genotyped for polymorphism in IL4 intron 3, with point mutations identified by amplification refractory mutation system polymerase chain reaction (ARMS-PCR) in IL6-174 G/C and by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis in TNF-308 G/A. The IL6 variant C/C exhibited significant association with bladder cancer risk (odds ratio OR = 2.811, P = 0.004), but IL4 and TNF genetic variants did not. Significant association was observed for IL4 (B1/B2+B2/B2) with high-grade or late-stage tumor for TaG3+T1 and T2+ (OR = 5.950, and 6.342 respectively) and with smoking (P = 0.004, OR = 4.202). Low recurrence risk was observed in BCG-treated patients carrying C/C genotype of IL6 (hazard ratio = 0.298, P = 0.03), and also higher recurrence-free survival (log rank P = 0.021). TNF and IL4 demonstrated no association of bladder cancer risk and BCG therapy. The low-producing variant C/C of IL6 may be a risk factor for bladder cancer, whereas high-producing genotypes of IL4 (B1/B2+B2/B2) may predispose to higher risk in patients with high-grade or late-stage tumor and smoking habits. The low-producing C/C IL6 genotype, which favors Th1 response, may be a beneficial prognostic indicator for treatment and survival of BCG-treated patients.

Despite advances in immunosuppressive therapy in last few years, allograft rejection still remains the concern for kidney graft failure. Cytokines are key mediators in the induction and effector phases of all immune and inflammatory responses. They are not allospecific so both recipient as well as donor cells may be subjected to cytokine changes. We sought to ascertain whether IL-1B -511, IL-1B +3954, TNF-A -308, TGF-B Codon 10 and 25, IL-2 -330, IL-6 -174, IL-10 -1082, IL-10 -819 (SNPs), IL-1RN, IL-4 (VNTR) and TGF-B C-del (deletion) genes in two hundred subjects including recipients and their live matched donors influence renal allograft outcome. Screening was performed using PCR-RFLP and amplification refractory mutation system (ARMS-PCR). The risk for rejection appeared significant amongst recipients for pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1B + 3954 (P = 0.045) and TNF-A -308 (0.031). No association of cytokine gene variants with rejection was observed in donors group. Further evaluating combinational effect of TNF-A (-308), IL-4 and IL-10 (-819) genes with the risk of allograft rejection showed no additive influence. Haplotype analysis between IL-1 gene cluster, TGF-B Codon 10 and 25 and IL-10 -1082 and -819 revealed that haplotypes of IL-1 gene 240-T-C, 410-T-C and 410-T-T showed very high risk among the recipients (>16, >5 and >12 folds risk respectively) when compared to donors. Interestingly, all these three haplotypes contained the variant allele T* of IL-B -511. In conclusion, our results suggest that high producing genotypes of pro-inflammatory cytokine genes in recipients have risk for allograft rejection. Lack of association in donors may be suggestive of having no conspicuous role in allograft outcome. Further analysis of diversity in haplotype variations in large populations could conceivably provide the basis for defined approaches to limit the rejections.

Background: Androgen receptors play critical roles in the development of primary as well as advanced hormone-refractory prostate cancers. Since the growth of prostate cancer is androgen-sensitive, metastatic disease has been treated by hormonal therapy in the form of androgen ablation. Prostate cancer cells rely on androgen receptor (AR) for proliferation and survival., Aim: To evaluate the prognostic significance of androgen receptor polymorphism in patients under hormonal therapy in any form., Methods: Complete follow up data were available for 87 patients out of 130 patients enrolled for study. DNA was extracted from blood samples using salting out method and then subjected to PCR Genscan for CAG and GGN genotyping. The mean follow up was 10.12+/-8.83 months., Results: Out of 87 patients, 64 experienced clinical as well as biochemical recurrence. The overall hormone refractory rates were 73.4% after one year. We observed a significant shorter median CAG repeats in HRPC patients (20 vs 22). The hazard ratio for HRPCs with the < or =20 CAG repeat genotype was 0.602 (0.33-1.08, p=0.09). Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that HRPC rates were not significantly associated with CAG repeat (p=0.06) but a trend was observed with short CAG repeats. No significant association was observed with AR-GGN repeats., Conclusions: A trend for association of AR-CAG repeats with HRPC patients in north Indian population was observed, suggesting this to be a prognostic factor for determining the therapeutic regimen.

End-stage renal disease has been associated with an inflammatory state. TGF-beta plays a critical role in antiinflammation counteracting inflammatory cytokines, wound healing, and tissue repair. We, therefore, speculated the protective role of TGF-beta in renal inflammation rather than inducing fibrosis. Three polymorphisms of TGF-beta (713-8delC), i.e., C deletion in intron sequence 8 base prior to exon-5 by PCR-RFLP and codon-10, Leu/Pro, and codon-25, Arg/Pro by Amplification Refractory Mutation System (ARMS-PCR) techniques were genotyped in 228 end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients and 180 controls. Linkage disequilibrium (LD) and haplotype analysis was performed by Arlequin software. Our data showed positive association between codon-10 polymorphism and ESRD risk (P < 0.001; OR 4.845, 95% CI 2.57-9.11 for Pro/Pro). However, genotype frequencies were comparable in patients and controls for 713-8delC, while in the case of codon-25, a trend of higher frequency of Pro/Pro genotype (16.2% versus 10.0%) was observed but the P-value did not reach significant (P = 0.187). Significant association of codon-10 Pro/Pro was observed in patients with glomerulonephritis (P = 0.001; OR 4.138, 95%CI 2.1-8.13). LD was found significant between codon-10 and 25 (P = 0.021). Haplotype "Pro-Pro" showed 1.8-fold higher risk for ESRD (p = 0.003; OR = 1.867, 95%CI = 1.229-2.838). A combined analysis of the effect of TGF-beta (codon-10) with C-deletion and codon-25 showed significant difference for TGF-beta(10)-TGF-beta(C-del) (P = 0.010). In conclusion, the present study suggests that low-producing genotype (Pro/Pro) of TGF-beta (codon-10) polymorphism is associated with ESRD. Haplotype analysis further suggested that "Pro-Pro" (low producer) is associated with higher risk for ESRD. Thus, high-producing genotype of TGF-beta may be beneficial and may play a potential role in the resolution of renal inflammation.

Earlier studies suggest that end-stage renal disease (ESRD) is associated with inflammatory state and have become a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. This study speculated the role of interleukins (IL)-2, -4, and -6 cytokines gene polymorphism with risk of susceptibility to ESRD. Polymorphism in IL-2 (-330 T/G, polymerase chain reaction [PCR]-restriction fragment length polymorphism), IL-4 (intron-3, variable number of tandem repeat, variable number tandem repeats analysis), and IL-6 (-174 G/C, amplification refractory mutation system, i.e. ARMS-PCR) were genotyped in 193 ESRD patients and 180 controls. Significant difference was observed in genotype frequencies of IL-4 and IL-6 between ESRD patients and control group (p<0.001 and p=0.032, respectively). Patients had higher frequency of homozygous B2B2 genotype (IL-4) than controls (62.7% vs 46.7) and GG genotype of IL-6 (73.1% vs 60.6%). The genotypic frequencies of IL-2 were comparable in patients and controls (p=0.102). Significant association of IL-4 was also observed in patients with glomerulonephritis (p=0.001). Combination of low IL-4 and high IL-6 genotypes were significantly associated with ESRD showing the highest risk, i.e. >threefolds risk (odds ratio=3.48, 95%CI=1.88-6.42; p < 0.001) among the four possible combinations taking high IL-4 and low IL-6 as reference. Our study suggests that polymorphism in IL-4 and IL-6 may be associated with susceptibility to ESRD. Further, combined analysis implicated a higher risk in ESRD patients with low IL-4 and high IL-6 producing genotypes. This study provided the basis for defined anti-inflammatory approaches to limit renal disease progression.

Background: Patients with chronic kidney disease manifest an inflammatory state in comparison to healthy individuals. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) is a potent pro-inflammatory cytokine involved in initiation and progression of renal injury. We examined the 2-promoter region polymorphism of TNF-alpha gene G to A at -308 and at +488 sites in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) subjects., Methods: The TNF-alpha -308 G/A and +488 G/A polymorphisms were genotyped in 231 patients aged 36.5+/-10, and in 180 matched controls (34.96+/-11.3) by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and amplification refractory mutation system (ARMS-PCR) method, respectively., Results: The genotypic distribution of TNF-alpha -308 and +488 were significantly different between patients and controls (P<0.001 and P<0.006), respectively. The AA genotype was more frequent in ESRD patients than controls for both the sites (42% vs. 2.8% and 17.3% vs. 2.2%), respectively. The allelic frequency of TNF-alpha A was also higher in cases than in controls for both the sites (P<0.001; OR=2.96; 95% CI=2.228-3.945 and P<0.013; OR=1.422; 95% CI=1.078-1.876). Significant difference was observed for haplotype frequency distribution between ESRD patients and controls and 'A-G#' haplotype showed >9-fold higher risk (OR=9.886, 95% CI=4.408-22.172). The two polymorphisms were in linkage disequilibrium in the control group (D'=0.8047, P<0.001)., Conclusion: Both the variants of TNF-alpha (-308 and +488) polymorphism had significant association and may thus be a strong predisposing risk factor for ESRD in a cohort of north Indian population. Further, individuals with haplotypes A-G# may be at higher risk for ESRD.

Prostate cancer is the most common urologic malignancy, involving multiple factors. There is evidence that suggests that detoxification enzymes and growth factors may play a role in its development . The glutathione S-transferase (GST) enzymes detoxify several carcinogens and genetic polymorphisms in GSTM1, T1, and P1 (Ile105Val) have been reported to be associated with prostate cancer, mainly from blood samples. As expression studies suggest differential expression of different genes in tissues, we hypothesize that polymorphic status may be differently expressed for GSTM1, GSTT1 and GSTP1 gene in blood and tissues of prostate cancer patients and BPH controls, impacting on the development of prostate cancer. To study this, we extracted DNA from blood and tissue samples of patients undergoing biopsy procedures or transurethral resection of prostate tissue. Genotyping for GSTM1 and T1 was conducted by multiplex PCR and for GSTP1 by the PCR-RFLP method. Our results suggested no significant differences in frequency distribution of M1, T1 and P1 between blood and tissue samples of patients and controls, but in a few patients differences in polymorphic status were observed. However, they were not significant. Furthermore, we observed a significant risk of prostate cancer with null allele of GSTT1 and GSTM1 and Val allele of GSTP1, supporting our previous findings. A study with large sample size using radical prostectomy tissue now needs to be performed to attain a specific conclusion.

Cytokines are known to be important mediators during renal graft outcome. The present study was therefore, conducted to determine the impact of IL-1beta and its receptor antagonist polymorphism on allograft outcome. We evaluated single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs) in interleukin-1 gene cluster, IL-1beta (promoter region -511 and exon-5 +3954) and IL-1Ra (86-bp VNTR) in 136 renal transplant recipients and 150 normal healthy controls by polymerase chain restriction based (PCR-RFLP) analysis. Recipients were HLA matched and clinically characterized including delayed graft function (DGF), rejection episode (RE) and stable graft function (SGF). Haplotypes and linkage disequilibrium (LD) were determined using SNPAnalyzer software. Significant difference was observed for the frequency distribution of the three sites of IL-1 gene among patients and controls (p<0.001, 0.022 and <0.001 respectively). When RE and DGF were compared to SGF, only IL-1Ra showed significant differences among RE and SGF (p=0.014) and DGF and SGF (p=0.020). The presence of 1/2 genotype showed 18 folds risk in RE and 10 folds in DGF (OR=18.000 and OR=10.667 respectively). The majority of recipients with SGF had 1-4 HLA mismatch whereas RE had 5-8 mismatches. Risk for rejection increased >6 folds (OR=6.571; p<0.01) for 5-8 mismatches. Haplotypes constructed with the combination of three polymorphisms in IL-1 gene cluster showed significant difference between RE and SGF group. LD value for IL-1beta (promoter region) and IL-1Ra and IL-1beta promoter and exon-5 gene in the control group indicated strong association among the variants (D'=0.37, p<0.0001 and D'=0.29, p=0.002). Our study demonstrate that genetically determined low production of IL-1Ra may be a risk factor for RE and DGF and that IL-1beta/IL-1Ra haplotype influences the impact of allograft outcome. These findings may significantly abet in better perception of the survival of the graft.

Introduction: Bladder cancer is a disease characterized by multiple recurrences. Some investigators assume urokinase to be involved in the causation of bladder cancer, although there is lack of genetic evidence. Our aim was to evaluate whether polymorphism of the urokinase gene is associated with transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the urinary bladder., Materials and Methods: The study included 100 patients (mean age 62.5 +/- 10.2 years) with TCC of urinary bladder and 150 healthy controls (mean age 60 +/- 11.5 years) living in the same area. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based restriction analysis was used to identify the C/T polymorphism of the urokinase gene. Genotyping distribution and allelic frequencies between patients and controls were compared., Results and Conclusion: There was a significant difference in the frequency distribution of the urokinase gene 3'-UTR C/T polymorphism in bladder cancer patients as compared to the normal control group (p < 0.05), but no significant difference in allelic frequencies or in carriage rates between bladder cancer patients and normal controls were observed. Our study suggests that urokinase gene polymorphism may be associated with bladder cancer and can thus serve as a potential genetic marker in screening for the possible causes of bladder cancer. Perhaps analysis of patients with superficial bladder TCC and mutated urokinase might help clarify this aspect in large cohort studies in different populations.

Objective: Glutathione-S-transferases (GSTs) are active in the detoxification of wide variety of endogenous or exogenous carcinogens. We examined the association of the GST gene polymorphism with sporadic bladder cancer patients in Northern India., Material and Methods: The study constituted of 106 bladder cancer cases and 370 age-matched controls. The GSTT1 and GSTM1 null genotypes were identified by multiplex PCR and GSTP1313 A/G by Polymerase Chain Reaction/Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism method (PCR/RFLP)., Results: We observed non-significant association in null alleles of the GSTM1 (p = 0.611, OR = 1.12, 95% CI = 0.72-1.74 and GSTT1 (p = 0.135, OR = 1.45, 95% CI = 0.89-2.37) with risk of bladder cancer. However, the G/G genotype of the GSTP1 gene polymorphism was highly significant when compared to controls (p=0.000, OR = 7.12, 95% CI = 3.14-16.16). The combined analysis of the three risk genotypes demonstrated further increase in the risk of bladder cancer (p = 0.000, OR = 7.29 95% CI = 2.81-18.93)., Conclusion: Our study demonstrated that GSTP1313 G/G polymorphism is a strong predisposing risk factor for bladder cancer. Combination of three GST genotypes association exhibiting gene-gene interaction further substantiates the increased risk of bladder cancer.

We investigated the role of vitamin-D receptor gene (VDR) and calcitonin receptor (CTR) gene polymorphism in childhood nephrolithiasis in the north Indian population. A control group of 60 healthy paediatric individuals (age range 4-16 years) and 50 paediatric patients (age range 2-14 years) with kidney stones were examined. Polymorphism in both genes (VDR and CTR) was detected by using PCR-based restriction analysis. There was a statistically significant difference between the two groups for the genotypes of the VDR gene Fok-I polymorphism (P =0.007) and the CTR gene (P =0.048) polymorphism. The odds ratio (95% Confidence Interval) for the C allele in those at risk of stone disease was 1.83 (0.82-4.09) in VDR gene polymorphism and 1.99 (0.90-4.39) in the case of CTR gene polymorphism. Our results suggest that the effects of VDR (Fok-I) and CTR gene polymorphism contribute to the understanding of the pathogenesis of urinary calculi. It is also suggestive of a potential candidate gene in the search for genetic causes of paediatric calcium oxalate nephrolithiasis.

Objective: To examine the association of glutathione-S-transferase (GST) gene polymorphisms in patients with sporadic prostate cancer, in a North Indian population, as GSTs are active in detoxifying a wide variety of endogenous or exogenous carcinogens, and genetic polymorphisms of GSTM1, GSTT1 and GSTP1 have been assessed to evaluate the relative risk of various cancers., Patients and Methods: We assessed 127 patients with prostate cancer and 144 age-matched controls, all from North India. The GSTT1 and GSTM1 null genotypes were identified by multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in peripheral blood DNA samples, and GSTP1-313 A/G polymorphism was determined by PCR/restriction fragment length polymorphism., Results: There was a significant association in null alleles of the GSTM1 (odds ratio 2.239, 95% confidence interval 1.37-3.65, P = 0.001) and GSTT1 (1.891, 1.089-3.282, P = 0.026) with prostate cancer risk, and in the -313 G alleles (Val) of the GSTP1 gene (2.48, 1.51-4.08, P < 0.001). The combined analysis of these three genotypes showed a further increase in the risks of prostate cancer (7.23, 2.42-22.6, P < 0.001)., Conclusion: The GSTP1-313 G polymorphism, and null alleles of GSTM1 and GSTT1, are strong predisposing risk factors for sporadic prostate cancer in North India.

Urokinase gene is believed to play a key role in tissue degradation and cell migration under various normal and pathological conditions, including cancer invasion and metastasis. It may be responsible in the development of prostate cancer (CaP), although there is lack of genetic evidence. Our aim was to study single nucleotide polymorphism (C/T) in 3'-untranslated region to investigate the possibility. DNA was extracted from blood samples of 103 CaP patients and 107 normal controls. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based restriction analysis was used to identify the C/T polymorphism of the urokinase gene. Significant difference in the frequency distribution of CT and TT genotypes in CaP patients as compared to normal was observed (p=0.04). Two folds risk for prostate cancer with T alleles in north Indian population was apparent. We also observed significant association for TT genotypes with higher Gleason score of tumors in CaP patients (p<0.05). A positive association was also evident in tobacco users having T alleles with risk of CaP. Our findings demonstrated a positive association of T allele of 3'UTR of urokinase gene with the risk of prostate cancer. We therefore hypothesize that C/T polymorphism may influence the etiology of CaP and is likely to become another new marker.

The present study was conducted (1) to examine whether the GSTT1- and GSTM1-null genotypes are risk factors for bladder cancer, and (2) to study possible association of tobacco usage and age strata with genotype of these patients. This case control study was undertaken over a period of 19 months and included 106 bladder cancer patients and 182 controls; both patients and controls originated from northern part of India. The GSTT1 and GSTM1 genotypes were identified by multiplex PCR in peripheral blood DNA samples. Genotype frequencies among patients and controls were assessed and the association of the genotypes with smoking habits and gender of the patients were statistically determined by the chi(2) test. Frequencies of null genotypes in GSTT1 and GSTM1, were 16% (29/182) and 30% (54/182), respectively, in control individuals. The frequencies of GSTT1- and GSTM1-null genotypes in bladder cancer patients were 26% (28/106) and 40% (42/106), respectively. In conclusion, our study demonstrated that the null genotypes of GSTT1 and GSTM1 were substantially at higher risk for bladder carcinoma compared to the normal healthy controls. The GSTT1- and GSTM1-null genotypes did not show significant association with tobacco usage in bladder cancer patients. However, the null genotypes were statistically significant in female relative to male bladder cancer patients.