Sex steroid hormones have important roles in the function of the prostate; however, they may also serve as factors in the initiation and progression of carcinogenesis. Estrogens, acting through estrogen receptors, may significantly affect prostate cancer development and progression. The main aim of the present study was to analyze the association between the rs3020449, rs4986938 and rs1256049 polymorphisms in the promoter region of the estrogen receptor β (ESR2) gene and prostate cancer risk in the Slovak population. A total of 510 patients with prostate cancer and 184 healthy men were included in the present study. No association between the rs4986938 and rs1256049 polymorphisms and prostate cancer development and progression was revealed; however, there was a statistically significant association between the rs3020449 GG genotype [odds ratio (OR), 2.35; P=0.002] and the G allele (OR, 1.42; P=0.005) and a higher risk of prostate cancer development. The rs3020449 GG genotype was significantly associated with a higher risk of development of carcinoma with a Gleason score >7 (OR, 2.66; P=0.005), as well as with the development of carcinoma with pT3/pT4 (OR, 2.28; P=0.02). According to the results from the present study, the rs3020449 polymorphism, in the promoter region of ESR2, may be considered to have a role in the development and progression of prostate cancer in the Slovak population.

Background/Aim: The aim of this study was to analyse the genetic profiles of metastatic castrationresistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) by using next generation sequencing to identify variants with pathogenic potential in nine DNA repair genes-BRCA1, BRCA2, RAD50, RAD51, RAD51C/D, ATM and ATR. Materials and Methods: Isolated genomic DNA from peripheral blood of 50 patients with mCRPC was used for the sequencing of 111 genes associated with hereditary cancer on an Illumina platform. Identified variants were tested in Integrative Genomic Viewer, their clinical significance confirmed in databases and their potential impact on protein function predicted by in silico tools. Results: From nine analysed DNA repair genes, we identified 14 relevant variants; three pathogenic variants-BRCA2 (rs80359306), RAD50 (rs786201531) and ATM (rs1555099760), and eleven other variants with pathogenic potential. Conclusion: The pathogenic variants identified in this study are located in evolutionarily conserved regions of proteins and are highly likely to affect DNA repair efficiency.

Oncoproteomic technologies offer a complementary approach to the understanding of cancer proteins' function and the translation of molecular knowledge into clinical practice. Our aim was to compare the proteomic profiles of prostate tumors versus benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) tissues in order to identify modulated proteins as the potential biomarkers for prostate cancer. Proteins extracted from twenty prostate cancer tissue specimens and ten BPH tissues were analyzed by two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) coupled with MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. Western blot and quantitative real-time PCR (RT-PCR) were performed to confirm the different amount of protein biomarkers revealed by 2DE combined with MALDI mass spectrometry. We found 42 spots whose expression in the prostate was altered more than 1.5-fold compared with BPH tissue (p < 0.05). These spots represented ten different proteins that were identified by a database search after mass spectrometry: they comprised proteins involved in the regulation of actin dynamics, the cytoskeleton, and cell motility (ACTG2, ACTA2, TPM1, DES, VIM, FLNA, and TAGLN), heat shock protein-27 (Hsp27), and proteins with other functions (TR and RANBP3). Subsequent western blot and RT-PCR assays for DES, VIM, TAGLN, and Hsp27 in prostate tumor tissues and BPH tissues confirmed the observations obtained by proteomic analysis. The cytoskeletal and cytoskeleton-associated proteins identified by this approach might be useful molecular targets for prostate cancer diagnostics and may contribute to novel therapies for prostate cancer.

Background/Aim: Our aim was to investigate possible influences of genetic variants in genes involved in the G 1 /S transition , cyclin E1 (CCNE1) and cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1B (p27 KIP1 )] on the expression/activity of their corresponding proteins and to assess the functional impact of these variants on the risk of prostate cancer. Materials and Methods: We genotyped 530 cases and 562 healthy controls for two relevant single nucleotide polymorphisms (CDK2 rs2069408 and CCNE1 rs997669) by TaqMan genotyping assay. p27 KIP1 rs2066827 polymorphisms were studied by polymerase chain reactionrestriction fragment length polymorphism assay. In addition, the expression of CDK2, CCNE1 and p27 KIP1 was evaluated by quantitative real-time-polymerase chain reaction and western blotting in 44 prostate cancer tissues and 31 benign prostatic hyperplasia tissues. Results: No association was found between CDK2 rs2069408, CCNE1 rs997669 or p27 KIP1 rs2066827 polymorphisms and an increased risk of prostate cancer development. Higher CDK2 expression was more prevalent in those with rs2069408 GG genotype than in AA carriers (p>0.05). We also noted reduced p27 KIP1 protein expression in those with the p27 KIP1 G109 allele. No difference was observed for CCNE1 expression in relation to the risky genotype (CC). A significant association was detected between CCNE1 mRNA overexpression and development of higher-grade carcinomas (Gleason score >7, p<0.05). Conclusion: Polymorphisms CDK2 rs2069408, CCNE1 rs997669 and p27 KIP1 rs2066827 have no significant impact on prostate cancer risk nor on the gene and protein expression of CDK2, CCNE1 and p27 KIP1 , although high CCNE1 expression was significantly associated with a higher tumour grade in patients with prostate cancer.

Background/Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between MDM2 T309G polymorphism and prostate cancer risk in the Slovak population and the association of this polymorphism with MDM2 expression and clinicopathological features. Materials and Methods: The MDM2 T309G polymorphism was determined by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis in 506 prostate cancer patients and 592 controls. Quantitative real-time (RT)-PCR and western blot analysis were applied to examine MDM2 expression in 47 prostate cancer tissues and 43 benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) tissues. Results: A decreased risk of prostate cancer in men carrying the GG genotype in comparison with the TT genotype was found. A decrease in the relative MDM2 mRNA and protein levels was found in prostate cancer tissues among patients with the MDM2 GG genotype. Conclusion: There is a potentially protective effect of the MDM2 GG genotype on the risk of prostate cancer in the Slovak male population.