Genetic polymorphism in CYP17 and breast cancer risk in Japanese women

A case-control study was conducted to investigate the association of two ge netic polymorphisms (1931T/C and 1951G/A) in the promoter region of the CYP 17 gene with breast cancer risk in Japanese women. No significant associati on was observed between CYP17 polymorphism(1951G/A) and breast cancer risk (odds ratio (OR) = 1.71, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.28-1.84). In contr ast, a significant increase in breast cancer risk (OR = 1.82, 95% CI: 1.07- 3.12) was observed. in Cyp17(1931C/C) homozygotes compared with Cyp17(1931T /C) heterozygotes and Cyp17(1931T/T) homozygotes when women aged greater th an or equal to 55 years were considered, but such a significant increase wa s not observed when women aged less than or equal to 54 years were consider ed (OR = 0.96, 95% CI: 0.56-1.63). These results suggest that CYP17 polymor phism(1931T/C) would be useful in the selection of Japanese women at a high risk for developing breast cancer at the age of greater than or equal to 5 5 years. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.