NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Australian researchers have identified four molecular biomarkers that in concert appear particularly effective in distinguishing prostate cancer from benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH).
“Because no one molecular marker would appear to be overexpressed in all prostate cancers,” senior investigator Dr. Robert A. Gardiner told Reuters Health, “we identified several discriminating markers which, used in combination, were able to identify 100% of cancer specimens correctly in tissue samples.”
Using microarray analysis, Dr. Gardiner of the University of Queensland, Herston and colleagues compared BPH samples and malignant cells obtained from hospital patients.
In prostate cancer cells GalNac-T3 was 4.6-fold overexpressed, DD3/PCA3 was 140-fold overexpressed, hepsin was 21-fold overexpressed and PSMA was 66-fold overexpressed, the researchers report in the In the May 10th issue of the International Journal of Cancer.
Using hepsin alone was 80% accurate in distinguishing samples. The corresponding values for PSMA alone and DD3/PCA3 alone were 81% and 90% respectively.
However, when all four markers were combined, all of the prostate cancer specimens were accurately distinguished from all of the BPH samples.
“Potential applications of this research are in the early diagnosis of prostate cancer, by examining prostatic cells in ejaculate or urine -- immediately following ejaculation or digital rectal examination -- and in targeting cancers with newer therapeutic strategies,” Dr. Gardiner suggested.
Source: Int J Cancer 2005;114:950-956. [ Google search on this article ]
MeSH Headings:Biological Factors: Biological Sciences: Biology: Genetic Techniques: Genetics: Genetics, Medical: Health Occupations: Immunologic and Biological Factors: Medicine: Investigative Techniques: Tumor Markers, Biological: Biological Markers: Chemical Actions and Uses: Chemical Actions: Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment: Biological Sciences: Chemicals and DrugsCopyright © 2002 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. Reuters and the Reuters sphere logo are registered trademarks and trademarks of the Reuters group of companies around the world.
