The Impact of Germline Genetic Variations in Hydroxysteroid (17-Beta) Dehydrogenases on Prostate Cancer Outcomes After Prostatectomy

Abstract: Background: The relationship between polymorphisms in the hydroxysteroid (17-beta) dehydrogenase (HSD17B) family of genes, which are involved in steroid hormone biotransformation, and the risk of prostate cancer (PCa) progression remains unexplored. Objective: Determine whether inherited variations in HSD17B genes are associated with PCa progression. Design, setting, and participants: We studied two independent Caucasian cohorts composed of 526 men with organ-confined PCa and 213 men with advanced disease who had a median follow-up of 7.4 yr and 7.8 yr after surgery, respectively. Measurements: Patients with localised PCa were genotyped for 88 haplotype-tagging single nucleotide polymorphisms in HSD17B type 1 (HSD17B1), type 2 (HSD17B2), type 3 (HSD17B3), type 4 (HSD17B4), type 5 (HSD17B5), and type 12 (HSD17B12), and their prognostic significance on disease progression was assessed using Kaplan-Meier survival curves and Cox regression models. Positive findings were then investigated in advanced disease. Results and limitations: After adjusting for known risk factors, 12 SNPs distributed across HSD17B2, HSD17B3, and HSD17B12 were significantly associated with risk of biochemical recurrence (BCR) in localised PCa (for variants in HSD17B2: hazard ratio [HR]: 1.92–2.93; p =0.025–0.004). In addition, four variants of HSD17B2 (rs1364287, rs2955162, rs1119933, rs9934209) were significantly associated with progression-free survival (HR: 2.96–4.69; p =0.004–0.00005) and overall survival in advanced disease (HR: 3.98–8.14; p =0.003–0.00002). Four variants of HSD17B3 and HSD17B12 were associated with a reduced risk of BCR (HR: 0.51–0.65; p =0.020–0.036) but not with progression in advanced disease. These results were generated mainly in Caucasians and should be studied in other ethnic groups. Conclusions: This study suggests a prominent role for common genetic variants in the HSD17B2 pathway in PCa progression. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]