BACKGROUND: Nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) pathway proteins play an important role in modulating inflammation and other carcinogenic processes. Polymorphisms within NF-κB pathway genes may influence cancer risk. This study aimed to examine the association between NFKB19-4 ATTG ins→del, NFKBIA 3’ UTR A→G, -826CT and -881AG polymorphisms and prostate cancer risk among Chinese.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: The polymorphisms were genotyped via PCR-RFLP technique on 936 prostate cancer patients and 936 population-based healthy controls. Logistic regression model was used to measure the risk association present.

RESULTS: With the exception of NFKBIA 3’ UTR polymorphism, the heterozygous and mutant genotypes of the other polymorphisms were significantly associated with prostate cancer risk. For NFKB1 polymorphism, a decreased risk was observed, with adjusted OR: 0.69; 95% CI: 0.44, 0.98; P=0.01 (heterozygous) and adjusted OR: 0.60; 95% CI: 0.37, 0.91; P=0.02 (mutant). NFKBIA -826CT and -881AG polymorphisms were in complete linkage disequilibrium and shared the same risk association, with adjusted OR: 1.34; 95% CI: 1.09, 1.62; P=0.02 (heterozygous) and adjusted OR: 2.83; 95% CI: 1.79, 4.50; P=0.01 (mutants). Interestingly, the impact of the NFKB1 polymorphism was not present in nonsmokers and younger (<60 years) subjects (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, polymorphisms in NFKB1 and NFKBIA genes may modulate the risk of developing prostate cancer among Chinese.

Keywords: Case-Control Studies, Asian Continental Ancestry Group - genetics, Genetic Association Studies, Genetic Predisposition to Disease, I-kappa B Proteins - genetics, NF-kappa B p50 Subunit - genetics, Polymerase Chain Reaction, Polymorphism, Genetic, Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length, Prostatic Neoplasms - genetics