Haboubacar Elhadji Yaou Moussa¹, Maazou Halidou², Sara Y. Houngue¹, Josué Avakoudjo³, Solomon Oladapo Rotimi⁴, Callinice D. Capo-Chichi^1,

Prostate cancer is a public health concern among men older than 50 years worldwide and its incidence keep rising as younger men are now diagnosed with this affliction. It is triggered by genomic instability or epigenetic modifications impacting genes and proteins involved in DNA repair, cell growth regulation and tumor suppression. In sub-Saharan African countries, few data are available on prostate cancer and the loss of BRCA1function. Recent studies have associated BRCA1 mutations to prostate cancer. Men with prostate cancer have symptoms like nocturia, poor urinary flow, hematuria, erectile dysfunction all of which affect their familial and social life. The main objective of our study is to assess the association between the instability of BRCA1 primary exons and the occurrence of prostate cancer, with the motivation to contribute to its early prescreening, prevention and treatment. Thus, to assess the functionality of BRCA1 we have investigated the integrity of exon 1,2,3 and 5 in male diagnosed with prostate cancer in three west African countries (Benin, Nigeria and Niger). Materials and methods: Peripheral blood was collected from men diagnosed with prostate cancer in urological service of three hospitals respectively in Benin (n= 20), Nigeria (n= 16) and Niger (n = 20) subsequent to ethical comity authorization (CLERB-UP) and signed informed consent from participants. Control samples (n= 20) were from healthy male students and university professors older than 25 years. Chloroform/isoamyl alcohol method was used to extract DNA before quantification with spectrophotometer. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to amplify exon 1, 2, 3 and 5 from 50 ng DNA, before migration on 1% agarose gel. Results and discussion: In all samples exon 2 and exon 5 were not amplified in 31.34% and 31.63% respectively; while Exon 1 and exon 3 were not amplified in 17.53% and 19.5% respectively. All of which could be due to deletion or spontaneous mutation. Conclusion: BRCA1 mutation should also be investigate in routine exam for prostate cancer prevention and treatment in sub-Saharan African population to prescribed the proper drug accordingly.

prostate cancer, pre-diagnostic, BRCA1