Tests to detect prostate cancer.NEW tests and treatments for prostate cancer prostate cancer, cancer originating in the prostate gland. Prostate cancer is the leading malignancy in men in the United States and is second only to lung cancer as a cause of cancer death in men. could be on the horizon after the discovery of genetic code variants that triple the chances of developing the disease. Scientists screened the DNA DNA: see nucleic acid. DNA or deoxyribonucleic acid One of two types of nucleic acid (the other is RNA); a complex organic compound found in all living cells and many viruses. It is the chemical substance of genes. of thousands of men to identify nine previously unknown risk areas. The research highlighted at least two genes that could be targets for new treatments. One, NKX3.1, helps control how cells die and may have a key role in cancer. Drugs that could help men with a defective NKX3.1 gene are already in clinical trials. Another gene called ITGA ITGA Islamic Transitional Government of Afghanistan 6 that is important for cell growth, movement and survival could also be a potential drug target. When overactive o·ver·ac·tive adj. Active to an excessive or abnormal degree: an overactive child. o it is associated with some prostate cancers. Prostate cancer affects around 35,000 men in the UK each year and kills just over 10,000. The disease is the most common cancer in British men, accounting for a quarter of all new cases. Four scientific papers on the genetic discoveries from different international teams were published in the journal Nature Genetics. One group led by Dr Ros Eeles, from the Institute of Cancer Research in Sutton, Surrey, examined the DNA of 38,000 men and found seven regions in the genetic code that increased the risk of prostate cancer. The scientists looked at differences in more than 43,000 single letter variations in the code called single nucleotide polymorphisms, or SNPs. Dr Eeles, whose team was funded by Cancer Research UK, said: "Our study adds further compelling evidence that genetic factors can influence a man's risk of developing prostate cancer. These results will help us to more accurately calculate the risk that a man could develop prostate cancer which will enable more targeted screening. Understanding these genes could also lead to the development of new treatments." The research takes the number of regions of the human genome associated with a higher prostate cancer risk to more than 20. Other findings focused on a region on chromosome eight -one of the packages of DNA that house the genes - which has previously been linked to prostate cancer.Two new SNP SNP Scottish National Party Noun 1. SNP - (genetics) genetic variation in a DNA sequence that occurs when a single nucleotide in a genome is altered; SNPs are usually considered to be point mutations that have been evolutionarily risk variants were found at this location that independently raise the likelihood of developing the disease. . Call NHS Wales Direct on 0845 46 47 with health concerns |
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