Scientists have made a significant breakthrough in the field of prostate cancer research, uncovering nearly twelve genes that are strongly linked to aggressive forms of the disease. This groundbreaking study, the largest of its kind, has shed light on the prevalence of prostate cancer among American men, with approximately one in eight individuals being affected by this condition at some point in their lives. Prostate cancer is currently the second most commonly diagnosed cancer among men, trailing only behind skin cancer.
While the exact causes of prostate cancer remain unknown to experts, this study has revealed that men carrying specific mutations on at least one of these eleven genes face a twofold increase in the risk of developing life-threatening prostate cancer. Spearheaded by a team of scientists at the esteemed University of Southern California, this discovery holds immense potential for the development of advanced cancer screening tools and targeted gene therapies.
Early detection plays a crucial role in the survival rates of individuals diagnosed with prostate cancer. In fact, nearly 100 percent of men whose cancer is detected in its early stages, before it has spread to other parts of the body, have a high chance of survival. However, once the cancer has metastasized, the survival rate drops significantly to just 32 percent.
To conduct this comprehensive study, an international team of researchers, led by Dr. Burcu Darst, an esteemed epidemiologist at USC, analyzed the genetic profiles of over 17,500 men diagnosed with prostate cancer. These individuals were drawn from various countries, including Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Finland, Sweden, and other European nations. The analysis was carried out by examining blood samples collected between January 2021 and March 2023. The team focused their attention on a subset of approximately 1,700 genes that have previously been associated with cancer.
This groundbreaking research has opened up new avenues for understanding and combating aggressive prostate cancer. The identification of these genes provides a foundation for further research and the development of targeted interventions that could potentially save countless lives.
Two mutated genes in particular showed strong associations with severe cases: BRCA2, one of the most well-known genes linked to breast cancer risk, and ATM, which plays a crucial role in repairing damaged DNA.
Harmful BRCA2 gene variations were found in slightly over two percent of aggressive cancer cases, while it only appeared in 0.7 percent of non-aggressive cases, roughly tripling the risk of getting a life-threatening form of cancer.
ATM mutation flaws likewise were discovered in 1.6 percent of aggressive cases and 0.7 percent in nonaggressive cases, more than doubling the risk.
And a harmful variation on the NBN gene was more prevalent in metastatic cases in which the cancer has spread to other parts of the body compared to milder cases.
The researchers singled out eight other genes whose mutations, while associated with more aggressive prostate cancer, had a slightly weaker association: MSH2, XRCC2, MRE11A, TP53, RAD51D, BARD1, GEN1, and SLX4 i.
Study participants did not have to have all of the gene mutations identified by researchers.
Men carrying rare harmful gene mutations in any of the 11 genes had a two-fold increased risk of progressing to lethal disease.
There are some genes, the researchers found, that are included in comprehensive genetic testing as increasing the risk of cancer but should not be.
Dr. Christopher Haiman, a cancer researcher at the University of Southern California, stated that certain genes included in these panels were based on limited studies and did not show an association with prostate cancer in our own study. Additionally, we have found evidence suggesting that other genes should potentially be included. Although the results are not entirely conclusive, it is evident that further research is necessary to determine which genes oncologists should prioritize in testing.
Genetic testing holds significant value in the field of oncology as it allows doctors to intervene promptly upon detecting problematic mutations. The growing understanding of the information our genes provide about future encounters with diseases has led to the emergence of a field dedicated to targeted medicines that address gene abnormalities driving cancer.
Presently, doctors have the capability to introduce tumor-suppressing genes into an individual’s cells or directly into cancer cells, causing them to self-destruct. Dr. Haiman emphasized that while screening primarily focuses on men with advanced disease or a family history, identifying patients with less advanced disease who carry these genetic variants may enable them to receive targeted treatments at an earlier stage.
Their findings were published in the journal JAMA Oncology.
More than 288,000 men are expected to get prostate cancer this year, a rate which has gained speed in recent years.
In 2020, just over 201,000 new cases were reported, up from about 192,000 in 2016.
In the US, whether to be screened for prostate cancer is up to the patient and his doctor. There is no mandate for screening, though general guidelines recommend men undergo prostate-specific blood testing every two to three years.
The condition has struck several high-profile figures including actor Robert De Niro who was diagnosed in 2003 at age 60, while investing giant Warren Buffett was diagnosed in 2012.
Many celebrities who have contended with the disease have used their platforms to raise awareness and push for more innovative treatments.