The molecular signature of prostate cancer

In the UK a man's average life time risk of developing prostate cancer is one in 13. That translates into 21,000 diagnoses each year, and the disease will kill 10,000 of these men. Yet a number of treatment options exist if an accurate diagnosis can be made early enough.

Now with the identification of two new molecular markers for prostate cancer, scientists may be on the verge of developing a more accurate diagnosis and prognosis than the current prostate specific antigen (PSA) test. The research is reported in this week's Nature by researchers from the University of Michigan Medical School.

"At present, the PSA test is a useful tool in diagnosis but it is completely unsatisfactory as a screening tool", said Chris Hiley, Senior Information Officer at The Prostate Cancer Charity. PSA tests can give false positive results and there is a lack of clear evidence of any benefit...