What you carry at this position in your DNA and what research says about it.
Prostate Cancer Risk: 8/10 evidence, 55 publications.
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Sample genotype (not yours): C/C
Typical Prostate Cancer Risk
Inheriting the common C allele from both parents is associated with a baseline risk of developing prostate cancer. This genetic profile does not carry the risk-elevating variant found in the 8q24 region.
What this genotype means: Baseline risk of prostate cancer; Typical prostate tumor volume.
Sample genotype (not yours): A/A
Elevated Prostate Cancer Risk
Inheriting two copies of the A allele is associated with an elevated risk of developing prostate cancer. This genetic profile is linked to larger tumor volumes and a higher likelihood of aggressive disease.
What this genotype means: Elevated risk of prostate cancer; Increased risk of advanced or early-onset disease; Associated with larger tumor volumes.
Sample genotype (not yours): C/A
Increased Prostate Cancer Risk
Presence of a single copy of the A allele is associated with an approximately 1.5-fold higher risk of developing prostate cancer. This variant acts as a long-range enhancer that can increase tumor growth and volume.
What this genotype means: ~1.5x higher risk of prostate cancer; Potential for larger tumor volume; Slightly higher risk of aggressive disease.
Gene function and biological role
Gene Function: The variant is located in an intergenic region on chromosome 8q24, often referred to as a gene desert [1]. This region contains long-range enhancer elements that physically interact with and regulate the expression of the MYC proto-oncogene [1]. MYC is a well-known master transcription factor that drives cell growth and proliferation [2]. Overexpression of MYC is a major driver of prostate cancer initiation and progression [3]. It has been shown to disrupt the normal transcriptional program of the androgen receptor in prostate cells [3].
Variant Impact: rs16901979 is a single nucleotide polymorphism located in region 2 of the 8q24 gene desert [4]. This specific change alters an enhancer sequence that controls the expression of the MYC gene [1]. Studies suggest that the risk-associated A allele increases the activity of this enhancer, leading to higher MYC levels in prostate tissue [1]. This localized overexpression can promote tumor development and progression [2].
Key Insight: This variant is located in a gene desert with no actual genes, yet it strongly influences cancer risk by acting as a long-range remote control for the MYC oncogene.
Location: MYC. Chromosome 8 · 8q24.21 · 127.1 Mb
Estimated prevalence by population
Global 74.0%; European 93.7%; African 32.0%; East Asian 57.1%; South Asian 80.6%; Americas 86.8%; Ashkenazi 92.4%; Finnish 90.1%; Middle Eastern 90.1%; Amish 99.6%.
Estimated CC genotype frequency.
Global 20.4%; European 6.2%; African 49.1%; East Asian 36.9%; South Asian 18.3%; Americas 12.7%; Ashkenazi 7.5%; Finnish 9.6%; Middle Eastern 9.7%; Amish 0.4%.
Estimated CA genotype frequency.
Global 5.6%; European 0.1%; African 18.9%; East Asian 6.0%; South Asian 1.0%; Americas 0.5%; Ashkenazi 0.2%; Finnish 0.3%; Middle Eastern 0.3%; Amish < 0.1%.
Estimated AA genotype frequency.
Showing effects for C/C genotype
Cancer & Oncology
Prostate Cancer
Prostate Cancer. Evidence: 8/10. Source: PMID 17401366. Typical Risk.
Advanced Prostate Cancer. Evidence: 8/10. Source: PMID 25939597. Typical Risk.
Early-Onset Prostate Cancer. Evidence: 8/10. Source: PMID 21557270. Typical Risk.
Cancer Prognosis & Treatment Outcome
Prostate Tumor Volume. Evidence: 8/10. Source: PMID 24345439. Typical Volume.
Showing effects for A/A genotype
Prostate Cancer. Evidence: 8/10. Source: PMID 17401366. ~1.75x Increased Risk.
Advanced Prostate Cancer. Evidence: 8/10. Source: PMID 25939597. Increased Risk.
Early-Onset Prostate Cancer. Evidence: 8/10. Source: PMID 21557270. Increased Risk.
Prostate Tumor Volume. Evidence: 8/10. Source: PMID 24345439. Larger Volume.
Showing effects for C/A genotype
Prostate Cancer. Evidence: 8/10. Source: PMID 17401366. ~1.5x Increased Risk.
Prostate Tumor Volume. Evidence: 8/10. Source: PMID 24345439. Increased Volume.
What this genotype means for the people who carry it
Sample genotype: CC (Homozygous)
A baseline genetic profile at this specific marker on chromosome 8q24 is represented by the C/C genotype [1]. Men with two copies of the C allele do not have the elevated risk of prostate cancer associated with the A variant [1]. Large-scale genome-wide association studies confirm that this profile is linked to typical tumor volume and typical risk of advanced or early-onset disease [2]. Because this is the most common genotype globally, it serves as the reference standard for risk assessment [3]. Standard age-appropriate prostate screenings and healthy lifestyle choices remain the primary recommendations for maintaining prostate health.
Baseline risk of prostate cancer; Typical prostate tumor volume.
Sample genotype: AA (Homozygous)
The highest genetic risk at this specific 8q24 locus is linked to inheriting two copies of the risk-associated A allele [1]. This variant is located within a critical enhancer region that regulates the MYC proto-oncogene, a major driver of cell proliferation [2]. Multiple large-scale studies and meta-analyses have demonstrated that this genotype significantly increases the odds of developing prostate cancer [3]. In addition to overall susceptibility, the A/A genotype is associated with a higher risk of advanced, aggressive disease and larger tumor volumes [4]. This genetic marker has been shown to have a particularly strong impact on early-onset prostate cancer risk [5]. Understanding this genetic profile can be valuable for discussing tailored screening plans with a medical professional.
Elevated risk of prostate cancer; Increased risk of advanced or early-onset disease; Associated with larger tumor volumes.
Sample genotype: CA (Heterozygous)
A moderately increased susceptibility to prostate cancer is associated with inheriting one copy of the A allele at this locus [1]. This genetic variant is located in the 8q24 region, which acts as a remote enhancer regulating the MYC oncogene [2]. Studies have shown that carrying the A allele is linked to a higher likelihood of developing more aggressive or advanced forms of the disease [3]. Furthermore, research indicates that when tumors do develop, carriers of this variant tend to have larger tumor volumes [4]. This association has been replicated across diverse ancestral populations, including men of African, European, and Asian descent [5]. Discussing these findings with a healthcare provider can help inform personalized screening strategies.
~1.5x higher risk of prostate cancer; Potential for larger tumor volume; Slightly higher risk of aggressive disease.
Variants with shared genetic architecture
rs11780156 · MYC Gene · Chr 8 · Breast Cancer Risk
rs1447295 · CASC8 Gene · Chr 8 · Prostate Cancer Risk
rs10086908 · PCAT1 Gene · Chr 8 · Prostate Cancer Risk
Long-range enhancers on 8q24 regulate c-Myc.
Prostate cancer genomics: towards a new understanding.
Homozygous deletions and recurrent amplifications implicate new genes involved in prostate cancer.
Genome-wide association study identifies a second prostate cancer susceptibility variant at 8q24.
Prostate cancer risk alleles are associated with prostate cancer volume and prostate size.
Two susceptibility loci identified for prostate cancer aggressiveness.
Large-scale association analysis in Asians identifies new susceptibility loci for prostate cancer.
Content updated August 2026.
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