Polymorphisms of human androgen receptor (hAR) gene in prostate cancer cell lines PC-EW and PC-OR.

BACKGROUND Prostate cancer is the leading tumor of the male in Western societies. Genetic alterations of the androgen receptor gene are known in the advanced metastatic disease. In this study, the androgen receptor gene was tested in two human prostate cancer cell lines, the androgen-sensitive PC-EW and the androgen-independent PC-OR. MATERIALS AND METHODS Genomic DNA was isolated from two cell lines from metastatic prostate adenocarcinoma in heterotransplanted male athymic nude (nu/nu) Balb/c mice. Mutation screening was performed by sequencing of exons 1-8 of the human androgen receptor gene. RESULTS Despite two polymorphisms found in the transactivation domain of hAR exon 1, no point mutations were detected in the hAR gene of both cell lines. CONCLUSION Point mutations of hAR are not necessary for metastatic prostate cancer, while alterations in the solyglutamine and polyglycine repeat region in exon 1 of the MR gene are more often found. These repeats are two of many genetic influences that contribute to the overall risk of developing prostate cancer.