Prohibitin mutations are uncommon in prostate cancer families linked to chromosome 17q.

BACKGROUND: Linkage studies have provided evidence for a prostate cancer susceptibility locus on chromosome 17q. The mitochondrial protein prohibitin (PHB) is a plausible candidate gene based on its chromosomal location (17q21) and known function. METHODS: All coding regions and intron/exon junctions of the PHB gene were sequenced in 32 men from families participating in the University of Michigan Prostate Cancer Genetics Project that demonstrated evidence of linkage to 17q markers. RESULTS: Although a number of nucleotide variants were identified, no coding region substitutions were identified in any of the 32 men with prostate cancer from 32 unrelated multiplex prostate cancer families. CONCLUSIONS: PHB mutations do not appear to account for the linkage signal on 17q21-22 detected in PCGP families. Fine mapping of this region is in progress to refine the candidate region and highlight additional candidate prostate cancer susceptibility genes for sequence analysis.

Duke Scholars

Author Kathleen Ann Cooney Medicine, Medical Oncology