Prostate cancer is the second most common cause of world-wide cancer-related death in men after lung cancer (WCRF International), and in Australia, it accounts for 30% of all new cancers in men and 13.4% of all cancer deaths in men (Cancer Australia). Currently, Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) is the most commonly used serum biomarker for prostate cancer most routinely used by urologists. However, PSA-based screening has been shown to have high false positives and false negatives with low specificity, and it is not able to distinguish well between cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia or between indolent and aggressive cancers, thus leading to overtreatment, especially unnecessary biopsies (Otero) (Qian). Therefore, there is an urgent need for a new specific biomarker for the early detection of prostate cancer, and effective biomarkers will be able to reduce morality rates and appropriate clinical interventions can be applied.
Different approaches have been tested to discover new biomarkers for the detection of prostate cancer, and there has been success in this field with specific markers found such as PCA3 (FDA approved) and TMPRSS2:ERG fusion gene which have a synergistic sensitivity when both are tested in combination for prostate cancer (Otero) (Dijkstra). Within the field of prostate cancer research, the drug Docetaxel is used effectively in the treatment of advanced prostate cancer known as castration-refractory prostate cancer (CRPC). However, patients eventually develop resistance, and the search for a biomarker of disease and drug resistance in prostate cancer is in demand (O’neill) (O’connell). A mass spectrometry (MS) analysis of drug resistant prostate cancer cell lines, parental and docetaxel-resistant, found that...
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...ere is potential in the proteins that have been identified to act as biomarkers for prostate cancer.
In summary, future research in the field of biomarker discovery needs validation in regards to the use of cell lines as a model and the proteomic techniques used. For instance, having a non-malignant control in addition to the cancer cell lines is critical because although cell lines represent tumors from which they originated (Sardana), the candidate markers discovered might not be commonly expressed in other prostate cancer cells nor have the capacity to discriminate between cancer and non-malignant cells (Johnson) (Hosseini-Beheshti). The discovery of novel prostate cancer specific biomarkers has the potential to improve diagnostic accuracy and efficiency and decrease mortality (Soliman), and thus should be pursued to provide validation on current limitations.
The concept of tumor heterogeneity being related to the course of the disease and clinical outcome in cancer patients draws additional attention in the era of personalized medicine (1). Current cancer treatment strategies are based on the site of origin of the primary tumor. However, it was shown that tumors developed from distinct cell types differ in their prognosis and response to cytotoxic therapies (2...
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is one of the most common ailments that affect aging men. Statistics show that more than half of the entire male population aged 65 have some form of BPH, while about 90 percent of men aged 85 have the condition. Every year, in the United States alone, about a quarter of a million surgeries are performed to correct BPH. As they name implies, BPH is a non-malignant growth of the prostate, the gland that secretes semen, the fluid that transports sperm. Although not harmful, BPH can bring about symptoms that could largely affect the quality of life of its sufferers.
The first experiment reviewed was titled “MRP3: a molecular target for human glioblastoma multiforme immunotherapy” and was carried out at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina by-Kuan et al’s (2010). Their study was conducted to identify brain tumor markers that are needed for prognostics from immunotherapeutic approaches. From series of analysis they found multidrug-resistance protein 3 (MRP3) to be a candidate marker of GBM [2]. After discovering a potential molecular therapeutic target Kuan et al. hypothesize that there would be evidence that MRP3is potentially a good target in immunotherapy for those with GBM [2].
Strategy to target cancer stem cells: The identification of CSC is essential for development of better and effective therapeutic strategies. The drugs used in the current therapies and treatments target not only the tumor cells, but also, the norm...
Prostate cancer has been the number one diagnosed cancer today. According to the World Health Organization, approximately one in every ten American men will develop prostate cancer during his lifespan. This cancer has been very common in the last few years. American Cancer Society reported over 200,000 new cases of prostate cancer. Huge number of population suffered severely. The prostate is significant for reproduction. It helps the substances that are involved in fertilization and transporting of sperm as well as survival. Prostate tumor is developed in the prostate gland, which is found in the men’s reproductive system. Prostate is the size of a walnut, which is located inferiorly in the penis and anterior to the rectum. It contains the connective tissue, which includes the glandular and fibrous tissues. This tumor starts to develop during their adolescent year due to the control of the male reproductive hormones. When the tumor starts to develop, it begins at the urethra, which is a tube that releases the urine from the bladder. The tumor is a slow development yet it is contagious to the other parts of the body, such as it does affect the pelvic bones, lungs, liver, and the lower vertebrae (Zenka, 2009).
Many breast cancers are sensitive to the hormone estrogen. Thus estrogen leads to development of breast cancer tumor formation. Such cancers have cell surface receptors for estrogen. They are called ER-positive cancer or estrogen receptor-positive cancer.
Prostate cancer at this stage cannot be felt and causes no symptoms. The cancer is only in the prostate and usually is found accidentally when surgery is done for other reasons, such as BPH. Cancer cells may be found in one, or many areas of the prostate.
Trevena L. (2009) Cancer screening Reprinted from Australian Family Physician: School of Public Health, University of Sydney, New South Wales. Vol. 38, No. 4
"Prostate Cancer; Fusion imaging helps target greater doses of radiation to prostate cancer cells." Cancerweekly Plus. 21 Oct. 2003: 147.eLibrary. Web. 16 Dec. 2013.
There are currently two slightly invasive screening tests used to detect prostate cancer. They are the digital rectal exam (DRE) and the prostate-specific antigen blood test (PSA). The DRE is a quick exam that can check the prostates health. A doctor inserts a gloved and lubricated finger into the rectum to feel the back portion of the prostate for size, irregularity or abnormal areas. DRE is the only method in which a physician can physically examine the prostate gland. If a doctor does find an irregularity the conclusion is not necessarily prostate cancer, but a reason to pursue diagnosis (Bast, 2000).
Cancer develops when cells in a part of the body begin to grow out of
This self-examination of the testicles can save your life and it takes only a couple of minutes. If a testicle cancer is diagnosed in an early stage, the survival rate is 95%.
The word ‘cancer’ is extremely disturbing for any person as it is usually associated with prolonged illness, morbidity & above all the risk of losing the life. Prostate cancer is the second most common type of cancer and the sixth leading cause of cancer death among men worldwide. I would like to answer few commonly asked queries regarding prostate cancer through this blog. What is Prostate cancer & is prostate enlargement always cancerous?
Today, prostate cancer is usually detected through screening, and there are two methods for early detection. The prostate-specific antigen test (PSA) is used, but there are many factors that can influence the outcome of the PSA test. Medications such as antihistamines, physical exertion or recent ejaculation can raise a PSA level (Gray, 2009). The test itself was intended for staging the presence of known prostate cancer and is less reliable when used alone (Oliver, 2007).
Blood and urine based biomarkers used in molecular pathology are only indicative of the average response of the cell population affected with little or no information of the range of response or variability form areas of tissue (Naddler and Langley 2001)