Androgen metabolic genes in prostate cancer predisposition and progression.

Significant evidence implicates androgens in prostate cancer etiology. We review recent data with regard to the association between several allelic variants of specific androgen-metabolic genes and the predisposition to prostate cancer. We also review the emerging evidence regarding the role of genetic variants of these genes as well as the androgen receptor in prostate cancer progression. Based on the prostate cancer paradigm, we propose that a multidisciplinary attack on the problem--involving biochemistry, genetics, pharmacogenetics, endocrinology and molecular epidemiology--may be important for the understanding and successful treatment of complex (in terms of etiology) human diseases.