Aims and background . The development of prostate cancer is dependent on heredity, androgenic influences, and exposure to environmental agents. The carcinogenic compounds require biotransformation by metabolizing enzymes and carcinogenesis of the prostate involves the associations between genetic polymorphisms of different metabolizing enzymes and prostate cancer. CYP2D6 belongs to the cytochrome P450 super family of enzymes and plays an important role in the metabolism of clinically used drugs including antidepressants. The polymorphic cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes are of particular interest in prostate cancer susceptibility because of their ability to metabolize both endogenous and exogenous compounds, including dietary constituents.

Materials and Methods. Association between CYP2D6 gene polymorphisms and prostate cancer was studied in a case-control study on North Indian population comprising 100 patients and an equal number of age-matched control men. For this purpose, the PCR products were exposed to restriction enzyme through RFLP method.

Results. Relative to men homozygous for the wild-type allele in CYP2D6 gene, those heterozygous for the B allele had an odd ratio of 1.78 (95% CI, 0.76-4.17, P=0.18) for patients, and for homozygous individuals, it was 1.95 (0.55-6.93, P=0.30).

Conclusion. No association was observed between B allele of CYP2D6 gene polymorphism and prostate cancer risk.