A Population Based Study of Genetic Predisposition and Gene-Environment Interactions in Prostate Cancer in East Anglia, Trent and West Midlands

OBJECTIVES:

• To obtain epidemiological information and biological material on a population-based series of prostate cancer cases.
• To identify novel cancer susceptibility genes by comparison of genotype frequencies in cases with the corresponding frequencies in large control series.
• To estimate the age and sex-specific risks associated with variants in predisposition genes.
• To evaluate interactions between polymorphisms in predisposition genes and potential lifestyle risk factors.

OUTLINE: This is a multicenter study.

Patients complete a detailed epidemiological questionnaire, including information on education, occupation, smoking habits, alcohol consumption, height, weight, family history of cancer, and past medical history.

Blood samples are collected from patients. DNA is extracted from these blood samples and from samples collected from cancer-free control participants in MREC-SEARCH-CONTROL as well as from additional controls through the European Prospective Investigation of Cancer (EPIC) study (a population based study of diet and health based in Norfolk, East Anglia). DNA samples are analyzed for polymorphisms of low penetrance cancer susceptibility genes.