Associations between variants in the cyclooxygenase 2 enzyme gene (PTGS2) and development of benign prostate enlargement

What's known on the subject? and What does the study add? Inflammatory processes may be associated with benign prostatic enlargement. Variants in the PTGS2 gene may increase the risk of prostate enlargement through increases in inflammatory processes. However, this increased risk may be minimized by use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). OBJECTIVE • To determine if polymorphisms in the cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) enzyme gene (prostaglandin synthase 2; PTGS2) were associated with development of benign prostate enlargement (BPE), and whether associations were modified by use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). MATERIALS AND METHODS • Participants were men residing in Olmsted County, MN, who were between 40 and 79 years of age in 1990 (N= 356). • Prostate volume was measured by transrectal ultrasound and men reported all the medications that they were taking at the time of the examination. Men were followed biennially for 16 years. • Ten tagging single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the PTGS2 gene were typed using the Illumina GoldenGate ^TM Assay. • Associations between SNPs and development of BPE (volume >30 mL) were assessed by Cox proportional hazards models. Models were also stratified by NSAID use. RESULTS • We observed significant associations between four polymorphisms in the PTGS2 gene and development of BPE (all P < 0.05). • These associations were not observed among men who used NSAIDs. CONCLUSION • Variants in the PTGS2 gene may increase the risk of prostate enlargement, but the increased risk may be minimized by use of NSAIDs.