New Genetic Markers That Can Predict Aggressive Forms Of Prostate Cancer

New Genetic Markers That Can Predict Aggressive Forms Of Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer, after lung cancer, is the second leading cause of death in men. One of the big problems regarding this disease is the inability to differentiate aggressive forms of prostate tumors from other forms of prostate tumors that might never become clinically significant.

According to a study which was published in August 2011, five variants of genetic markers were identifyed which are associated with aggressive forms of prostate cancer. The researchers said that this is the first study which demonstrates that the genetic markers can provide prognosis information for prostate cancer. The scientists now hope this markers, along with other markers that may be identified in the future, can help prostate cancer patients to be early diagnosed.

Prostate Cancer

This genetic markers which were validated as being associated with aggressive forms  of prostate cancer are single-nucleotide polymorphisms (five of them). This 5 single-nucleotide polymorphisms were located, in the following genes:

1. LEPR, represents the strongest marker which is associated with aggressive forms of prostate cancer. It is a cytokine receptor which can be found in normal and malignant prostate tissue. The binding of leptin to its receptor, leads to the appearance of some effects like stimulation of tissue growth, inflammation, angiogenesis and bone mass regulation, which can affect prostate carcinogenesis. Because of the latter effect, LEPR becomes a interesting marker for prostate cancer progression, because the primary site of metastasis for prostate cancer is the bone and the presence of bone metastases dose not represent a element of good prognosis in patients with prostate cancer;
   
2. CRY1, the cryptochrome 1 gene, it is the marker that regulate the level of androgen hormones, which are known as factors that favor prostate cancer progression. This marker may also function as a tumor suppressors through regulation of cell proliferation, apoptosis, and response to DNA damage;
3. RNASEL is associated with hereditary forms of prostate cancer and is also associated with apoptosis, inflammation, cell proliferation and adhesion;
   
4. IL4 plays a important role in prostate cancer because this marker activate a transcription factor;
   
5. ARVCF is a marker which is member of the p120 catenin family of proteins, which increase expression of cell adhesion and may facilitate the prostate cancer progression.

Patients with 4 to 5 positive genetic markers had a 50% higher risk for aggressive forms of  prostate cancer than patients who had only 2 or fewer positive markers. The researchers noticed that the risk for mortality in patients with prostate cancer, increase with the number of this genetic markers.

Prostate cancer, as all malignant tumors, is a complex disease that results from an interaction between genetic and non-genetic factors. In the past was done a number of studies that have identified some genetic mutations that may be associated with prostate cancer risk. This mutations which are associated with prostate cancer were found on the chromosomes 3, 6, 7, 10, 11, 19, and X.