Vitamin D Receptor Genetic Polymorphisms and Prostate Cancer Risk: A Meta-analysis of 36 Published Studies.

To update data on the role of vitamin D receptor (VDR) single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in susceptibility to prostate cancer, we performed a meta-analysis of 36 eligible publications on the association of Taql, Apal, Bsml, Fokl and CDX2 SNPs of the VDR gene with prostate cancer risk. Our study suggested that the Taql t and Bsml B alleles were associated with reduced prostate cancer risk among all study populations. Stratified analysis by ethnicity revealed that the Apal a allele was associated with reduced prostate cancer risk only among Asian populations, whereas the Fokl f allele showed a trend of increased prostate cancer risk only among Caucasian populations in a dominant model, independent of tumor stage (local or advanced). These results suggest that VDR polymorphisms may be potential biomarkers for prostate cancer susceptibility.