Clues to prostate cancer found

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Ken Alltucker

The Arizona Republic

Scientists from the TGen and other research facilities and universities have identified a gene that may be linked to an aggressive form of prostate cancer, a finding that researchers say may advance the treatment of the disease.

The scientists believe the gene, called DAB2IP, aids in suppressing tumor growth. When the gene takes on a variant form, the body's natural protection is stripped away, allowing prostate cancer to spread more rapidly, researchers say.

Scientists say the research eventually could yield a simple blood test that helps doctors and patients determine the best course of treatment for the disease.

"Now it is nearly impossible to determine if a man who has been diagnosed with prostate cancer has a tumor that is aggressive," said Dr. John Carpten, director of TGen's division of integrated cancer genomics. "This will arm patients and doctors with more information in regard to treatment."

Researchers caution that the discovery must be confirmed by other scientists, and much more research is needed before a reliable test can be developed.

Scientists from the Translational Genomics Research Institute, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Karolinska Institute in Sweden and Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions jointly discovered the role of the gene. The findings were published today in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

Prostate cancer is second-most common type of cancer diagnosed for American men, with more than 218,000 new cases expected this year. About one in six men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer, but just one man in 35 will die from the disease, according to the American Cancer Society.

Success in treatment largely depends on how soon the disease is detected and whether it grows aggressively beyond the prostate. Yet doctors have no accurate test that can predict whether a tumor likely will grow more rapidly.

"There is a huge debate in the medical community about whether prostate cancer is being overtreated," Carpten said. "Right now, there is not a lot of information to tell whether prostate cancer will be an aggressive form or not. Most men will take a 'better safe than sorry' approach."

Treatment options are not without risk. Some men experience the side effects of incontinence or impotence after being treated for prostate cancer.

Doctors and researcher say a reliable, gene-based test could improve treatment options.

"If we had a gene marker that could tell a man he has a higher probability and therefore could take a more aggressive approach to therapy, it potentially would be very helpful," said Dr. Tim Bowden, chief scientific officer of the Arizona Cancer Center in Tucson.

http://www.azcentral.com/business/articles...1212online.html

[wishbone 0]

- The risk of prostate cancer increases steadily with age and it is rare in men under 50.

- Your risk is higher if you have close relatives (a father, uncle or brother) who have had prostate cancer.

- If several women in your family have had breast cancer (especially if they were diagnosed at under 40 years of age) an inherited faulty gene may be present. The gene may also increase the risk of the men in that family getting prostate cancer.

- If you are African-Caribbean or African-American you are at highest risk whereas if you are Asian, you are at lower risk.

- A high fat diet may increase your risk.

Those people within this range feel kinda relieved.

Edited December 13, 2007 by wishbone

[Jasman0717 9]

I just had a friend die from brain cancer that they docs are saying was from prostate cancer he had had about 15 years ago.

[ForeverAmen 0]

Are you serious?