Prostrate cancer fight boosted

Scientists today revealed a molecular fingerprint for prostate cancer which they believe will lead to new tests and treatments for the disease.

Researchers at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, US, used sophisticated microarray technology to analyse the workings of genes in healthy and cancerous prostate tissue.

Microarrays contain genetic material which matches up with the chemical elements of particular DNA sequences.

They can be used to assess the ‘‘expression’’ - or protein production - of thousands of genes simultaneously.

Prostate samples from 50 men produced nearly 200 genes or gene fragments in which expression profiles varied consistently depending on whether the tissue was normal or malignant.

Four tissue types were analysed - normal tissue from men with and without prostate cancer, tissue showing benign changes, localised prostate cancer, and aggressive and spreading cancer.

While some of the genes identified were already well known, others had never before been associated with prostate cancer.

Two of the new genes, known as hepsin and pim-1, may turn out to be important biomarkers for the disease which could be used in diagnosis.

At present, the presence of a substance called Prostate Specific Antigen is used as an early warning sign of prostate cancer. However, it is not entirely reliable.

While hepsin’s function is unknown, the researchers suspect it plays a key role in the establishment of tumours. Pim-1 is a known cancer-causing gene that was highly expressed in prostate cancer.

Dr Mark Rubin, co-author of a research paper published in the journal Nature today, said: ‘‘It has been 15 years since the Prostate Specific Antigen test became available in 1987.

"This approach could give us many new diagnostic tests within three to five years.

"Eventually, it could lead to a diagnostic kit physicians could use to determine the best treatment and prognosis for their patients with prostate cancer.’’

Dr Chris Hiley, senior information officer at the Prostate Cancer Charity, said: ‘‘This is an interesting study, and although it doesn’t have any immediate clinical applications it certainly holds out useful lines of inquiry for the future.’’