Association among polymorphisms in the steroid 5alpha-reductase type II (SRD5A2) gene, prostate cancer risk, and pathologic characteristics of prostate tumors in an Ecuadorian population.

Androgens are essential to normal prostate growth and development. It is therefore possible that polymorphisms in the androgen synthesis gene 5alpha-reductase type II (SRD5A2) may be involved in the progression of prostate tumors. We evaluated the relationship of two single-nucleotide polymorphisms, A49T and V89L, with prostate cancer risk in a case-control study.