CYP3A5 gene polymorphism and risk of prostate cancer in a Japanese population

The CYP3A5 gene (CYP3A5) encodes the cytochrome P450 3A5, which catalyzes the 6β-hydroxylation of testosterone. We explored association between the CYP3A5 A6986G polymorphism and a risk of prostate cancer in 260 prostate cancer patients, 199 BPH patients and 212 male controls. The CYP3A5 gene polymorphism did not influence significantly a risk of developing of prostate cancer in general. However, compared with males with the GG genotype, those with the AA genotype had a 0.23-fold decreased risk of developing low-grade prostate cancer (P=0.023), and a 0.31-fold decreased risk of developing localized (stages A-C) prostate cancer (P=0.044). The CYP3A5 A6986G polymorphism may be specifically associated with a decreased risk of low-grade or early stage prostate cancer.