African-Americans (AA) have increased prostate cancer risk and a greater mortality rate than European-Americans (EA). AA exhibit a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency. We examined the global prostate transcriptome in AA and EA, and the effect of vitamin D3 supplementation.
Twenty-seven male subjects (ten AA and 17 EA), slated to undergo prostatectomy were enrolled in the study. Fourteen subjects received vitamin D3 (4000 IU daily) and 13 subjects received placebo for 2 months prior to surgery.
AA show higher expression of genes associated with immune response and inflammation.
Systems level analyses support the concept that Inflammatory processes may contribute to disease progression in AA. These transcripts can be modulated by a short course of vitamin D3 supplementation.
Pharmacogenomics. 2016 Jun 30 [Epub ahead of print]
Gary Hardiman, Stephen J Savage, E Starr Hazard, Robert C Wilson, Sean M Courtney, Michael T Smith, Bruce W Hollis, Chanita Hughes Halbert, Sebastiano Gattoni-Celli
Department of Medicine & Public Health, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA., Department of Urology., Center for Genomics Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA., Center for Genomics Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA., Center for Genomics Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA., Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA., Department of Pediatrics, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA., Ralph H Johnson VA Medical Center, Charleston, SC, USA., Ralph H Johnson VA Medical Center, Charleston, SC, USA.