Androgen pathway genes and prostate cancer risk

A recent study has reviewed the association of androgen pathway genes and their polymorphic sites, and the risk of prostate cancer in individuals of different ethnic backgrounds.

Researchers state that the most recent data suggest that androgen pathway genes have a role in prostate cancer susceptibility. However, the effects of polymorphisms seem to vary in different patients, populations and ethnic backgrounds. They conclude that the association between androgen pathway gene polymorphisms and prostate cancer risk is complex and characterized by contradictory results. However, they also note that recent developments that reach beyond single gene studies, such as genome scale single nucleotide polymorphism studies and multinational collaborations, are a great prospect for future study and understanding more complex interactions.