New insights and candidate genes and their implications for care of patients with hereditary prostate cancer.

A positive family history is a risk factor for prostate cancer. Most studies based on segregation analysis suggest autosomal dominant transmission of susceptibility genes. Multiple loci on chromosome 1 and chromosome X have been associated with prostate cancer by linkage analysis. The candidate gene approach has also revealed multiple genetic markers that are associated with increased risk for the disease. The genetic studies in prostate cancer suggest there are multiple genes involved in the development and progression of prostate cancer.