Positive association of the androgen receptor CAG repeat length polymorphism with the risk of prostate cancer

Prostate cancer (PC) is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in Ecuador (15.6%). The androgen receptor gene codes for a protein that has an androgen-binding domain, DNA-binding domain and N-terminal domain, which contains two polymorphic trinucleotide repeats (CAG and GGC). The aim of the present study was to determine whether variations in the number of repetitions of CAG and GGC are associated with the pathological features and the risk of developing PC. The polymorphic CAG and GGC repeat lengths in 108 mestizo patients with PC, 148 healthy mestizo individuals, and 78 healthy indigenous individuals were examined via a retrospective case-control study. Genotypes were determined by genomic sequencing. The results demonstrated that patients with <= 21 CAG repeats have an increased risk of developing PC [odds ratio (OR)=2.99, 95% confidence interval (CI) =1.79-5.01; P<0.001]. The presence of <= 21 CAG repeats was also associated with a tumor stage >= T2c (OR=4.75; 95% CI=1.77-12.72; P<0.005) and a Gleason score >= 7 (OR=2.9; 95% CI=1.1-7.66; P=0.03). In addition, the combination of <= 21 CAG and >= 17 GGC repeats was associated with the risk of developing PC (OR=2.42; 95% CI=1.38-4.25; P=0.002) and with tumor stage >= T2c (OR=2.77; 95% CI=1.13-6.79; P=0.02). In conclusion, the histopathological characteristics and PC risk in Ecuadorian indigenous and mestizo populations differs in association with the CAG repeats, and the combination of CAG and GGC repeats.