Thousands of men may not need surgery for prostate cancer after researchers have identified genetic markers for the aggressiveness of the disease.
Men with higher levels of the gene that promotes growth in cells (cell cycle progression genes or CCP) are more likely to have the most aggressive form of prostate cancer, according to researchers at Queen Mary, University of London. The study was published in Lancet Oncology in February 2011.
Men with less aggressive forms of prostate cancer might be able to delay or forgo surgery. Prostate surgery can lead to complications like incontinence and impotence.
Men with higher CCP were also 70% more likely to have a recurrence of prostate cancer.
Researchers studied 703 men with prostate cancer. 366 of the men had their prostates removed for cancer and 337 had cancer only in the prostate and were not deemed in need of surgery immediately. Researchers discovered that a certain combination of gene levels indicated whether the men were at higher or lower risk of the cancer spreading.
Tissue samples used to measure the men’s CCP were taken by biopsy or when their prostates were removed in surgery.
Doctors may be able to use these markers to predict the aggressiveness of prostate caner and better determine a patient’s treatment needs. Myriad Genetics has developed a test for CCP. Jack Cuzick of Queen Mary said that such a test could be used within the next year.
The results of this study will need to be validated by clinical trials before being used in practice. Cuzick said a measure for how aggressive prostate cancer will be in a particular patient is badly needed.
Similar tests have already been used in patients with cancer of the lungs, brain and breasts. Among men, prostate cancer is the second highest cause of cancer death.