ALABI, Kehinde Elizabeth

Abstract

Prostate cancer (PCa) remains a major health concern, particularly in Nigeria, where incidence and mortality are high. Globally, PCa is a leading malignancy among men. Genetic variations, such as single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), may influence PCa susceptibility and progression. This study investigates the association of three SNPs, rs11549465 (Hypoxia Inducible Factor 1A), rs3211938 (Cluster of Differentiation 36), and rs6152 (Androgen Receptor), with PCa risk and severity in Nigerian men. A case-control study was conducted involving 73 PCa patients and 80 healthy controls. Genotyping was performed using the TaqMan assay, and allele and genotype frequencies were calculated. The rs6152 SNP showed a higher frequency of the A/G genotype in cases (24%) than controls (9.7%), with an odds ratio of 4.95 (95% CI: 1.54–17.35; p = 0.0091), suggesting a significant association with increased PCa risk. For rs11549465, the C/T genotype was more prevalent in cases (10.1%) than controls (2.6%), with an OR of 0.24 (95% CI: 0.02–1.33; p = 0.061), indicating a possible protective effect, though not statistically significant. The rs3211938 SNP showed no significant association with PCa risk. No investigated SNP showed a statistically significant association with the Gleason score. For rs11549465, the mean score for C/C was 7.34 compared with 7.75 for C/T (Mann–Whitney U = 66.0, p = 0.673). For rs3211938, T/T had a mean of 7.29 versus 7.64 for G/T (Mann–Whitney U = 199.0, p = 0.407). For rs6152, A/A, A/G, and G/G showed mean scores of 7.36, 6.00, and 7.80, respectively (Kruskal–Wallis H = 1.62, p = 0.445). These findings suggest a significant association between rs6152 and PCa risk in Nigerian men, highlighting the role of genetic factors in susceptibility. Further studies with larger cohorts are warranted to validate these associations and explore their potential in personalised medicine for PCa management in African populations.