Revelation of new genes linked to prostate cancer could single out high risk men

The discovery by researchers of at least ten new genes associated with prostate cancer could in future be used to accurately identify high-risk men.

The research from the U.S., the UK and Iceland has revealed more genetic variations linked with prostate cancer risk and the researchers say the revelations could help predict which men are susceptible to the most aggressive forms of the disease and also lead to new treatments.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men after lung cancer and becomes more common as men age, it accounts for a quarter of all cancers in men.

The prostate is a walnut-sized gland at the base of the bladder which produces fluid for semen; prostrate cancer is often a slow-growing tumour and many men will die of something else before it becomes dangerous.

According to the research team at the UK's Institute of Cancer Research, who identified seven of the new gene changes linked to prostate risk, genetic tests based on the findings could be developed in a few years.

Oncologist Ros Eeles says the potential for a genetic test is there but the marketing of tests to the public is premature; such a test could help identify those who really need screening.

A Genome-wide scan of more than half a million single letter variations in the DNA code were analysed in men in the UK and Australia and the researchers say the seven genes they found had not previously been linked to prostate cancer.

The genes which were found through analysis of 10,000 individuals, are present in over half of all prostate cancer cases.

One of them, MSMB, can be measured in the blood and may be particularly useful in screening for or monitoring the progression of the disease, while another, LMTK2, could be a potential target for new treatments.

The researchers believe within the next three to four years "genetic profiling" could be offered to men to assess their risk of developing the condition and this will enable a more accurate decision to be made as to which men need more regular monitoring or further tests.

Current screening for men with a family history of the disease involves prostate specific antigen (PSA) blood test to detect signs of the disease which is often inaccurate and misleading.

Although 10-15% of men will have high enough PSA levels to warrant carrying out a prostate biopsy, only 2-3% will require any treatment.

Researchers from Iceland's Decode Genetics Inc. also discovered two new genetic changes and Steven Chanock of the National Institutes of Health in the United States and his team also detected three genetic changes in their study of more than 1,100 men with prostate cancer and those without the disease.

Biotechnology company Decode Genetics Inc says a screening test will soon be available at a cost of $500 available through doctors.

Experts say the new information will greatly improve the understanding of how prostate cancer develops and target screening for prostate cancer towards men known to have higher risk of developing the disease.

Of the 680,000 men diagnosed with prostate cancer each year about 220,00 will die from it; the new information could lead to improved screening and targeted drugs to treat the disease.

Prostate cancer affects one in 11 men in Australia.

The new research is published in Nature Genetics.