BACKGROUND: Somatic mutations have been related to the highest incidence of 
metastatic disease and different treatment responses. The molecular cause of 
prostate cancer (PC) is still unclear; however, its progression involves 
alterations in oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes as well as somatic mutations 
such as the ones in PIK3CA gene. A high percentage of PC is considered sporadic, 
which means that the damage to the genes occurs by chance after birth (mainly 
somatic mutations will drive the cancer event). However, little is known about 
somatic mutations in PC development.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: We evaluated prostate biopsies in the main somatic 
mutations genes (PIK3CA, TP53, EGFR, KIT, KRAS, PTEN, and BRAF) among 
individuals with PSA values>4ng/ml (n = 125), including affected and unaffected 
PC subjects.
RESULTS: Mutations in KIT gene are related to aggressive PC: TNM stages II to 
III, Gleason score ≥ 7 and D'Amico risk (P = 0.037, 0.040, and 0.017). However, 
there are no statistical significant results when more than 3 somatic mutations 
are presented in the same individual. In relation to environmental factors 
(smoking, diet, alcohol intake, or workplace exposure) there are no significant 
differences in the effect of environmental exposure and the somatic mutation 
presence. The most prevalent mutations among patients with PC are c.1621A>C 
(rs3822214) in KIT, c.38G>C (rs112445441) in KRAS and c.733G>A (rs28934575) in 
TP53 genes. KRAS, KIT, and TP53 genes are the most prevalent ones in patients 
with PC.
CONCLUSIONS: Somatic alterations predisposing to chromosomal rearrangements in 
PC remain largely undefined. We show that KIT, KRAS, and TP53 genes have a 
higher presence among patients with PC and that mutations in KIT gene are 
related to an aggressive PC. However, we did not find any environmental effect 
in somatic mutations among PC individuals.