SLC39A1 and Familial prostate cancer: Down-regulation of SLC39A1 expression has been associated with prostate cancer pathogenesis and is linked to poor prognosis (Franklin et al, 2005), with most studies focusing on zinc’s direct effects on apoptosis or cell growth inhibition (Golovine et al, 2008; Feng et al, 2002; Liang et al, 1999).