Single-nucleotide polymorphism in the E-cadherin gene promoter modifies the risk of prostate cancer.

E-cadherin plays a major role in intercellular adhesion, cell polarity and tissue architecture. We determined the relative risk of PCa associated with a previously reported C/A SNP at -160 bp relative to the transcription-start site of the E-cadherin gene promoter. Eighty-two PCa patients and 188 controls were genotyped. Genotype and allele frequencies differed significantly among cases and controls. A-allele carriers had a higher relative risk of PCa (OR = 3.6, 95% CI 2.0-6.4) compared to C-only carriers. AC and AA genotypes had an increased risk of PCa (OR = 3.8, 95% CI 2.1-6.8 and OR = 1.7, 95% CI 0.4-6.6, respectively) compared to CC genotypes. Copyright 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.