Discovery of five genetic variants linked to prostate cancer

Written by Sandeep Nehra

Researchers have discovered five genetic variants associated with hereditary cancers more aggressive prostate cancer, paving the way for a blood test able to distinguish between tumors that require a shock treatment and those requiring only slowly evolving surveillance, according to studies published on Tuesday .

“The biomarkers that can distinguish between patients with a prostate tumor dormant and those with a more aggressive cancer starved,” said Dr. Janet Stanford, co-director of the Program for Research on Cancer prostate Hutchinson Center and lead author of this clinical study published in the online version of the journal “Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention.”

“The markers we have identified provide the first strong evidence of the key role played by inherited genetic variations in the progression and mortality of this cancer,” she adds.

“These markers can be used clinically with other indicators already known prostate cancer to assess the aggressiveness of the tumor such as Gleason score, and identify men at high risk,” says Dr. Stanford.

A large number of men, especially older, with tumors of the prostate slowly progressive with a low probability of evolving into a deadly cancer undergo unnecessary treatment such as removal of the gland, with side effects such as sexual impotence or urinary incontinence, stress the authors of this research.

In addition, these unnecessary treatments have a high economic cost estimated two to three billion dollars a year.

“We chose to study variations in genes that potentially play a key role in biological processes that may contribute to the progression of prostate cancer such as inflammation, steroid production, metabolism, repair of DNA, the circadian rhythm and activity of vitamin D, “says Dr. Stanford.