More connections found between genes, prostate cancer

A research team at the University of Turku of Finland has found a connection between synergistic interaction of two genes and the risk of aggressive prostate cancer.

The examined genes are HOXB13 and CIP2A1. HOXB13 has already been known to connect to prostate cancer risk, although its mechanism is not yet understood, according to a press release issued by the university.

"The research shows that synergism between the HOXB13 and CIP2A genes predispose men to get prostate cancer earlier in life," said Johanna Schleutker, leader of the research team at the Institute of Biomedicine of the University of Turku.

She added that the simultaneous occurrence of these two gene variants stimulates prostate cancer cell growth, migration and tumor formation.

Csilla Sipeky, first author of the research paper, said that the small changes in both of the genes make it possible for CIP2A to boost the effect of the HOXB13, resulting in the highest-ever observed prostate cancer risk.

The study found that men who have these two gene variants simultaneously are 21 times more likely to get prostate cancer and 2.3 times more likely to get the aggressive form of it.

Prostate cancer is a global challenge in healthcare sector with over one million new cases and 300,000 deaths from it every year in the world. Early diagnosis plays a remarkable role in the treatment of prostate cancer.

The research team said that genetic testing for HOXB13 and CIP2A could help identify the patients earlier and bring new opportunities for the early detection of prostate cancer.

More than 7,000 patients and an equal number of controls took part in the study. However, it is still limited by the fact that the participants primarily belong to the Caucasian populations of northern Europe. Therefore, further research including other demographic groups is needed to verify the findings, said the press release.

The study was published in the latest Journal Clinical Cancer Research.