Prostate cancer genes

I read something in the paper about gene changes that make men more likely to get prostate cancer. Can you tell me more?

Cancer Research UK scientists published a research study in February 2008 that looked at gene changes in men with prostate cancer.

In the UK, 1 in 10 men (10%) get prostate cancer during their lifetime. It is most common in men over the age of 65. There are many different factors that can help to cause this disease. There is more information about general risks and causes for prostate cancer in our prostate cancer section.

We know that inherited gene changes can play a part in the development of prostate cancer because

Some families have a few members with prostate cancer
If one identical twin has prostate cancer, the other twin has a higher than average risk of getting it as well (as the twins have the same genetic make up)
Brothers, fathers and sons of men with prostate cancer are more likely to get prostate cancer than the average man

Researchers realised that particular combinations of genes may increase a man’s risk of developing prostate cancer. So, over many years, teams of scientists in the UK and Australia studied the differences in the genetic make up of over 10,000 men. They compared the genetic make up of men who had prostate cancer and men who did not have prostate cancer.

The scientists found 7 gene changes, which each slightly increase the risk of prostate cancer. The changes are on the human chromosomes numbered 3, 6, 7, 10, 11, 19 and X.

Men can have one or more of these gene changes. The more changes you have, the more the risk of prostate cancer goes up. Finding these genes has helped scientists to understand much more about how prostate cancer develops. But the changes still can’t tell us who will definitely get cancer and who won’t.

At the moment we don’t have tests to check men for these gene changes. It will take a few years for tests to be developed. Then research trials will take some time to find the best way of using them.

Some of the genes may help to diagnose and treat prostate cancer in the future. One gene called MSMB could possibly be used to test men to see who needs regular checks for prostate cancer. It could also be used to test whether treatment is working.

Another gene called LMTK2 stimulates cells to divide and grow. It is a type of growth factor (tyrosine kinase). In the future, scientists and doctors may be able to develop biological therapies to switch off the gene and stop cancer cells growing.