 |
| New hope for prostate cancer |
New hope for prostate cancer will enable men to prepare themselves if someday they are stricken with prostate cancer. A study found the genes trigger prostate cancer, which became a nightmare of men.
E2F3 gene
Now, thanks to the results of a study conducted by scientists from the Institute of Cancer Research Everyman Centre, men can breathe a little sigh of relief. They have successfully found a gene called E2F3, genes that are considered as triggers for prostate cancer, such as reported by BBC News Online recently. Previously also detected E2F3 gene as a cause of bladder cancer. These genes actually have an important role as a controller of cell division in a living body.
In the case of for prostate cancer cells, E2F3 gene acts overactively, which produces too much protein. The result is excessive cell proliferation and tumor growth. The team of scientists have measured the level of E2F3 protein in prostate sample of 147 people and see how many levels of E2F3 in each cell. They found no healthy for prostate cells. The E2F3 gene is present precisely as much as 67 percent for prostate cancer cells. The higher the amount of the protein, the more aggressive the cancer.
"These findings are quite encouraging, because the cause is now known. From here it could be a marker gene in the diagnosis of for prostate cancer," said Professor Colin Cooper, head of the study told BBC News Online. "The test to distinguish between aggressive tumors, causes, and which the tumor is minor is a breakthrough in prostate cancer research.".
Often a patient undergoing treatment procedure that is not really necessary. But because the diagnosis of for prostate cancer have not been able to so accurately then any patient could not help but go through it. Now it is known already that the E2F3 gene plays an active role in for prostate cancer as a key identifier how aggressive the cancer develops.
PSA test
Until now, the majority of medical experts around the world using the Prostate Specific Antigen test (PSA) to determine the presence of for prostate cancer. This test is less accurate until there is serious actions taken for the cancer that is turned out to be mild. These tests are also unable to detect whether the cancer grows rapidly or slowly.
PSA is a single-chain glicoprotein consists of 237 amino asic and four side-chain carbohidrate.PSA is found in secreted cell from prostate, therefore it is a specific substance of prostate organ and can be found in a normal prostate, hiperplasia prostate and prostate with cancer. PSA level in serum depends of how big the prostate is. In BPH, PSA is in transitional zone but in prostate cancer the level is much higher. PSA level in serum is measured with Radio Immuno Assay (RIA). Be informed that the level of PSA can increase in the certain condition such as prostatitis (inflamation of prostate), chateterization, rectal examination (cystoscopy) and TURP (Trans Urethra Resection of the Prostate). While in the prostate tissue, PSA can be identified by immuno peroxidase staining. PSA levels are useful to follow the course of the disease on the response for prostate cancer treatment or surgery that has been done.
In addition to recognition as a trigger for for prostate cancer, E2F3 gene is also considered as a cause of bladder cancer. This cancer is no less ferocious than for prostate cancer. Actually this disease is not a disease of men, but also women, but records show men have three times greater risk of bladder cancer compared to women.
Cooper and his team of researchers found that there are large amounts of E2F3 gene in the vicinity of bladder cancer patients. From his analysis also demonstrated a direct link between the amount of E2F3 and cancer stage. The findings are expected later could be a reference in the treatment of bladder cancer in the future. In addition to blocking the gene in a patient, is also expected later created a boutique-style medicine in which medical procedures performed on each patient are different from each other, determined by the level of genes they have.
"This treatment is far more effective because each patient can be immediately known his genetic condition, whether he is considered as a potential cancer or not," explains Cooper. The finding was welcomed by cancer experts worldwide. Professor Peter Rigby, chairman of the Institute of CancerResearch commented, "We await other findings from this study and we can now anticipate the development of prostate cancer and bladder cancer earlier.".
Prostate cancer is a malignant cancer that strikes men over the age of 50 years. Usually when there are family members who suffer from prostate cancer cancer then the other high-risk family members also might have it later. Oddly enough, the disease is quite rare suffered by asians. More patients are white or black people.
