We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress hp
Sign In
Advertise with Us
LGC Clinical Diagnostics

Download Mobile App




Fatal Prostate Cancer Differentiated from Manageable Cancer

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 29 Oct 2018
Print article
Image: A photomicrograph from a prostate biopsy of prostatic adenocarcinoma, conventional (acinar) type, the most common form of prostate cancer (Photo courtesy of Nephron).
Image: A photomicrograph from a prostate biopsy of prostatic adenocarcinoma, conventional (acinar) type, the most common form of prostate cancer (Photo courtesy of Nephron).
Human prostate cancers display numerous DNA methylation changes compared to normal tissue samples. However, definitive identification of features related to the cells’ malignant status has been compromised by the predominance of cells with luminal features in prostate cancers.

A recent study showed that more than 25 men were being unnecessarily treated with surgery or radiotherapy, for every single life saved. It is believed that success rates could be hindered as a result of treating all prostate cancers in the same way. A test has been designed that can pick out life-threatening prostate cancers, with up to 92% accuracy.

Scientists at the University of York (York, UK) and the University of British Columbia (Vancouver, BC, Canada) generated genome-wide DNA methylation profiles of cell subpopulations with basal or luminal features isolated from matched prostate cancer and normal tissue samples. The team analyzed more than 500 cancer tissue samples and compared them with non-cancer tissue to search for patterns of a chemical group that is added to part of the DNA molecule, altering gene expression.

The team reported that many frequent DNA methylation changes previously attributed to prostate cancers were identified as differences between luminal and basal cells in both normal and cancer samples. They also identified changes unique to each of the two cancer subpopulations. Those specific to cancer luminal cells were associated with regulation of metabolic processes, cell proliferation and epithelial development.

Within the prostate cancer TCGA dataset, these changes were able to distinguish not only cancers from normal samples, but also organ-confined cancers from those with extraprostatic extensions. Using changes present in both basal and luminal cancer cells, they derived a new 17-CpG prostate cancer signature with high predictive power in the TCGA dataset.

Davide Pellacani, PhD, the lead senior author of the study, said, “Using this computer analysis, not only could we see which tissue samples had cancer and which didn't, but also which cancers were dangerous and which ones less so. Out of almost a million markers studied, we were able to use our new tools to single out differences in cancer potency.” The study was published on October 15, 2018, in the journal British Journal of Cancer.

Related Links:
University of York
University of British Columbia

Gold Member
Veterinary Hematology Analyzer
Exigo H400
Verification Panels for Assay Development & QC
Seroconversion Panels
New
Centrifuge
Hematocrit Centrifuge 7511M4
New
Total 25-Hydroxyvitamin D₂ & D₃ Assay
Total 25-Hydroxyvitamin D₂ & D₃ Assay

Print article

Channels

Immunology

view channel
Image: The findings were based on patients from the ADAURA clinical trial of the targeted therapy osimertinib for patients with NSCLC with EGFR-activated mutations (Photo courtesy of YSM Multimedia Team)

Post-Treatment Blood Test Could Inform Future Cancer Therapy Decisions

In the ongoing advancement of personalized medicine, a new study has provided evidence supporting the use of a tool that detects cancer-derived molecules in the blood of lung cancer patients years after... Read more

Microbiology

view channel
Image: Schematic representation illustrating the key findings of the study (Photo courtesy of UNIST)

Breakthrough Diagnostic Technology Identifies Bacterial Infections with Almost 100% Accuracy within Three Hours

Rapid and precise identification of pathogenic microbes in patient samples is essential for the effective treatment of acute infectious diseases, such as sepsis. The fluorescence in situ hybridization... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2025 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.