Metallothionein 2A genetic polymorphisms and risk of prostate cancer in a Polish population

Metallothionein 2A (MT2A) is the most expressed metallothionein (MT) isoform in prostate cells. A number of studies have demonstrated altered MT2A expression in various human tumors, including prostate cancer. We conducted an association study to examine whether MT2A gene polymorphisms are associated with a risk of prostate cancer. Genotyping was conducted using a polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR RFLP) technique. Three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), rs28366003, rs1610216, and rs10636, were genotyped in 358 prostate cancer cases and 406 population controls. One SNP in MT2A (rs28366003) showed a positive association with prostate cancer. Compared to homozygous common allele carriers, heterozygosity for the G variant (odds ratio (OR) = 2.30, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.50-3.47, P-trend < 0.0001; the OR assuming a dominant model 2.43 (95% CI: 1.62-3.61, P-dominant = 0.001) after adjustment for age) had a significantly increased risk of prostate cancer in a Polish population. Our data suggest that the rs28366003 SNP in MT2A is associated with the risk of prostate cancer in a Polish population.