Met160Val polymorphism in the TRMPSS2 gene and risk of prostate cancer in a population-based case-control study

BACKGROUND Serine proteases play an important role in prostate cancer (PCa) invasion through the degradation of extracellular matrix proteins and interaction with growth modulating factors. The transmembrane serine protease 2 (TMPRSS2) gene encodes a type II transmembrane protein which, due to its cell surface localization, could be a potentially useful predictive marker for PCa. METHODS We screened a population of 24 unrelated individuals for sequence variants in the TMPRSS2 gene, and found a Met160Val change in 33%. We then tested 559 cases and 523 controls from a population-based case-control study of middle-aged men from Washington State. RESULTS Men with the GG genotype and a first-degree family history of PCa had a significantly higher risk for PCa relative to men without a family history (OR = 2.05; 95% CI = 1.3–3.2). However, the interaction between genotype and family history of PCa was not significant (P = 0.52). CONCLUSIONS Larger, more detailed studies are needed to fully investigate the role of serine proteases in PCa. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.