Endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene polymorphisms and the shedding of circulating tumour cells in the blood of prostate cancer patients

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2003

Authors

Medeiros, R (Author) Other; Morais, A (Author) Other; Vasconcelos, A (Author) Other; Costa, S (Author) Other; Carrilho, S (Author) Other; Oliveira, J (Author) Other; Lopes, C (Author) ICBAS

Journal

Title: Cancer Letters

Vol. 189

Pages: 85-90

ISSN: 0304-3835

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 23 Citations

Scopus - 27 Citations

Scientific classification

FOS: Medical and Health sciences > Clinical medicine

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-000-J1J

DOI: 10.1016/s0304-3835(02)00118-0

Abstract (EN): The involvement of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eeNOS) gene polymorphisms (ecNOS4a/b and Glu-Asp298) on the shedding of tumor cells in the blood of 61 patients with prostate cancer (PCa), was analyzed. Hematogenous micrometastasis with blood circulating tumor cells (CTCs) may be an early event in the natural history of PCa metastization. CTCs can be detected by the presence of messenger RNA prostate specific membrane antigen by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. We found an association between ecNOS4a/b genotypes presenting the a allele (ab/aa) with the presence of CTCs in the blood of PCa under the age of 67 years (P = 0.003) and with localized disease (P = 0.012). This association was not found for Glu-Asp298 genotypes. In summary, we have identified a nitric oxide related genetic factor associated with micrometastization of prostate cancer. We hypothesize that genotypes with the a allele of the ecNOS4a/b polymorphism may facilitate the survival of CTCs in the blood of cancer patients. (C) 2003 Published by Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 6