Genetic study maps out prostate cancer hope

A landmark genetic study described as the ‘Rosetta stone’ of prostate cancer has opened up a new era of hope for men with advanced forms of the disease.

The findings could lead to a plethora of personalised medicines that target specific gene defects, some of which are already in use or undergoing trials.

It sets the stage for a whole new world of treatment options for patients with metastatic cancer spreading to their bones and vital organs who no longer respond to existing therapies.

British and US scientists who drew up the first comprehensive map of genetic mutations linked to different strains of deadly prostate cancer found that almost 90% of the men whose DNA they studied carried potentially treatable defects.

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They also learned that 8% of the men were born with genetic faults that predisposed them to prostate cancer.

Professor Johann de Bono, from the Institute of Cancer Research in London, who led the British team, said: “This map will guide our future treatment and trials for this group of different lethal diseases. We’re describing this study as prostate cancer’s Rosetta stone — because of the ability it gives us to decode the complexity of the disease, and to translate the results into personalised treatment plans for patients.

“Our study shines new light on the genetic complexity of prostate cancer as it develops and spreads, revealing it to be not a single disease, but many diseases each driven by their own set of mutations. What’s hugely encouraging is that many of the key mutations we have identified are ones targeted by existing cancer drugs — meaning that we could be entering a new era of personalised cancer treatment.”

Dr Iain Frame, director of research at the charity Prostate Cancer UK, described the research published in the journal Cell as “incredibly exciting and ground breaking”.

He added: “It suggests for the first time the list of genetic mutations to search for in order to build up a blueprint of a man’s prostate cancer once it has spread. This could provide the information about the best routes of attack in each individual case, which is crucial if we are to reduce the number of men dying needlessly from this disease.

“What’s more is that many of the genetic changes they have identified could potentially be targeted by existing drugs.”

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