A gene or genes on chromosome arm 8p have been implicated in prostate carcinogenesis since the original observation of frequent deletions of this arm in prostate cancer cells was described over 10 years ago. However, no definitive prostate cancer gene on 8p has been identified. Recently, a series of new observations from our laboratory and other groups implicate germ line variations of 8p as an important genetic component of prostate carcino genesis, including: 1) demonstration of linkage at 8p22-23 in families with hereditary prostate cancer (HPC) in multiple studies; 2) observation of germ line rearrangements (inversions, duplications) involving 8p22-23 in HPC patients; 3) the most recent finding by our group that the MSR1 (macrophage scavenger receptor 1) gene is associated with prostate cancer risk; and 4) evidence for additional prostate cancer genes at 8p22-23 as positive linkage remains and shifts to the telomeric side of the 8p22-23 region in families without MSR1 mutations. We therefore hypothesize that additional germline sequence variants in genes on 8p22-23 increase individual susceptibility to prostate cancer, as well as that MSR1 is a major prostate cancer susceptibility gene. To test these hypotheses, we propose to use a combination of linkage, sequencing, family-based association studies, and functional studies in a large and unique collection of 206 HPC families with at least three men with prostate cancer. We have the following three specific aims: 1) Obtain further evidence for MSR1 as a major prostate cancer susceptibility gene by screening for known and novel MSR1 mutations and assessing their co-segregation with prostate cancer in the 47 newly collected families and additional family members of the 11 families with MSR1 mutations. 2) Identify mutations/sequence variants in other genes at the tetomeric side of the 8p22-23 linkage region using direct sequencing in probands of the families without MSR1 mutations. 3) Assess the association between the identified mutations/sequence variants and prostate cancer risk by performing family-based association tests. 4) Begin to evaluate the functional changes of the mutations/sequence variants by measuring the expression of mRNA and protein levels for a subset of mutations/sequence variants that are associated with prostate cancer risk. Successful identification of prostate cancer genes will have a significant impact on understanding the etiology, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of prostate cancer.
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