Poly (AT) polymorphism in the XPC gene and smoking enhance the risk of prostate cancer in a low-risk Chinese population

We investigated two polymorphisms of xeroderma pigmentosum complementary group C (XPC) in 202 subjects with prostate cancer (PCa) and 221 healthy controls in a Chinese Han population. Genotyping was performed using a polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) technique. Our results indicated that smoking is associated with an increased risk for PCa (odds ratio [OR]: 1.51; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.02–2.22). Subjects carrying the XPC-PAT+/+ genotype exhibited a significantly increased risk for PCa (OR: 2.11; 95% CI: 1.12–3.99). The combined subjects with either the PAT+/+ or PAT+/− genotype also exhibited a 1.54-fold increased risk associated with PCa (OR: 1.54; 95% CI: 1.04–2.26). Moreover, smokers with PAT+/− or PAT+/+ had a higher risk for PCa (OR: 1.98; 95% CI: 1.08–3.64; P = 0.026 and OR: 3.56; 95% CI: 1.45–8.76; P = 0.004, respectively) compared with never smokers with the PAT−/− genotype. Analyses of the XPC Lys939Gln polymorphism did not show an association with PCa risk. Our findings support the hypothesis that XPC-PAT polymorphisms may contribute to the risk of developing PCa. More important, an elevated risk of PCa associated with a gene-environment (smoking) interaction was determined in a Chinese population.