Objective: To investigate single nucleotide polymorphism of vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene start codon in the Han nationality in Hubei area and its relationship to the susceptibility to prostate cancer (PCa), and to study the possible mechanism for PCa.
Methods: The VDR genotypes were determined by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) in 80 patients with PCa and 96 normal male controls from the Han nationality in Hubei area, using endonuclease Fok I. Direct sequencing was done in part of the PCR products.
Results: The frequency distribution of Fok I alleles in this cohort all followed the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The distribution of genotypes and alleles had no significant difference between PCa patients and normal male controls( P > 0.05).
Conclusion: The results indicated no significant relationship between Fok I polymorphism of VDR gene start codon and PCa in the Han nationality in Hubei area.