New Genetic Research Increases Accuracy of Identifying Fatal Prostate Tumors

Feb 3rd, 2011 | By | Category: Featured, Impotence News

GenesNew research on first mice and then later humans shows with 92 percent accuracy the level of aggressiveness of a prostate turmor, identifying tumors that could be fatal for the patient.

A 92 percent accuracy rating, when combined with standard prostate tests, is a massive leap in pinpointing fatal tumors over previous diagnostics, which are at best 75 percent accurate, according to Dr. Ronald DePinho.

Prostate cancer is unique in that many prostate cancers may never become fatal for an individual. But, the potential for a life-threatening prostate cancer (the risk assessed by a doctor) must lean towards the safe side, forcing many man into serious surgical or therapy decisions that can lead to both impotence and incontinence.

The better the accuracy in testing, the better chances of saving men from getting harsh, unnecessary treatment for a cancer that may have never killed them in the first place. Dr. Depinho estimates that about 48 men must be treated for prostate cancer in order to save one life.

DePinho and his team of researchers identified a gene, known as Smad4, that slows cancer growth. Alternately, they found the genes that were key to driving growth of cancerous tumors: SPP1 and CyclinD1 – both of which work closely with Smad4.

Prostate cancer is a very common cancer among men 50+, the second most common cancer in men after lung cancer.

Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/02/02/us-cancer-prostate-idUSTRE7117X520110202

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