In the Prostate, Cancer is Not Cancer
Scientists at the University of Michigan have identified at least 24 different kinds of prostate cancer of varying virulence whose DNA signatures can be read like a bar code. Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center researchers have identified other genetic subtypes of prostate cancer that seem to predict whether the tumor will be low or high risk. And Harvard Medical School scientists have found a specific gene that causes prostate cancers to spread. Some of the discoveries also could lead to new treatments, tailored specifically for the kind of prostate tumor a man has.
Full article on genetic tests for prostate cancers.
Interesting post. This is the sort of thing that gets left out of all the articles I have seen about how we are getting too many prostate cancer tests. It may not be too many if you have the most lethal king of cancer.
Obvious followup question: If you have prostate cancer, how do you know which type you have?
Interesting chart. I’ve never seen that before.
If two-thirds to three-quarters of prostate cancer patients have the slow growing type, the best treatment is to develop an easy way to let men know if they fall within the slow-growing group. Men with the slow-growing type tend to die with cancer not from it.
The availability of the more accurate tests may actually make prostate testing worthwhile.