Chan Chi-keung. / Thesis (M.Sc.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2000. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 93-107). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / List of Tables --- p.ix / List of Figures --- p.x / Chapter 1. --- Literature Review --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Oncogenic anatomy of the prostate gland --- p.1 / Chapter 1.3 --- Characteristics of prostate cancer --- p.7 / Chapter 1.4 --- Incidences of prostate cancer --- p.8 / Chapter 1.5 --- Risk factors for prostate cancer --- p.14 / Chapter 1.5.1 --- Endogenous risk factors --- p.14 / Chapter (A) --- Age --- p.14 / Chapter (B) --- Race --- p.16 / Chapter (C) --- Family history --- p.21 / Chapter (D) --- Hormonal factors --- p.24 / Chapter (I) --- Androgen --- p.24 / Chapter (II) --- Vitamin D --- p.32 / Chapter 1.5.2 --- Exogenous risk factors --- p.41 / Chapter (A) --- Dietary factors --- p.41 / Chapter (B) --- Body Mass Index & physical condition --- p.44 / Chapter (C) --- Occupation --- p.46 / Chapter (D) --- Vasectomy --- p.47 / Chapter (E) --- Others --- p.48 / Chapter 2. --- Introduction to the project --- p.49 / Chapter 3. --- Objectives --- p.50 / Chapter 4. --- Materials and Methods --- p.51 / Chapter 4.1 --- Prostate cancer cases --- p.51 / Chapter 4.2 --- Controls --- p.52 / Chapter (A) --- Benign prostatic hyperplasia --- p.52 / Chapter (B) --- Population control --- p.52 / Chapter 4.3 --- DNA extraction --- p.53 / Chapter 4.4 --- Amplification of target DNA --- p.54 / Chapter 4.5 --- Allele typing --- p.55 / Chapter 4.6 --- Statistical analysis --- p.55 / Chapter 5. --- Results --- p.60 / Chapter 5.1 --- Optimization of DNA extraction --- p.60 / Chapter 5.2 --- Optimization of PCR condition --- p.61 / Chapter 5.3 --- Allele typing --- p.65 / Chapter 5.4 --- Characteristics of subjects samples --- p.68 / Chapter 5.4.1 --- Age of subjects and tumor grading --- p.68 / Chapter 5.4.2 --- Genotype typing --- p.69 / Chapter (A) --- Bsm genotype --- p.69 / Chapter (B) --- Fok genotype --- p.69 / Chapter 6. --- Discussions --- p.73 / Chapter 6.1 --- Technical issues --- p.73 / Chapter (A) --- DNA extraction --- p.73 / Chapter (B) --- Primer design --- p.76 / Chapter (C) --- Determination of the optimal PCR condition --- p.77 / Chapter (D) --- Restriction enzyme digestion --- p.82 / Chapter 6.2 --- Age distribution of prostate cancer patients --- p.83 / Chapter 6.3 --- Genotype frequency --- p.84 / Chapter 6.4 --- Histopathological samples of case and control --- p.87 / Chapter 6.5 --- Vitamin D receptor genotypes and prostate cancer --- p.89 / Chapter 7. --- Conclusions --- p.92 / Chapter 8. --- References --- p.93