Scientists find test for aggressive form of prostate cancer

In a report published in Clinical Cancer Research, the researchers say that the “Stat5” protein in the nucleus of prostate cancer cells was a significant predictor of which patients would develop a worrisome recurrence years after their prostate cancer was initially treated.

Stat5 is a protein that, when activated, signals cancer cells to continually grow and survive. The study investigated prostate cancer biopsies or prostate cancer tissues obtained from surgery from 357 prostate cancer patients, and matched active Stat5 levels with outcome.

Given further validation, the findings offer hope that a “biomarker” can be developed to help oncologists and urologists to identify patients that are more likely to have a recurring and/or eventually life-threatening prostate cancer. Specifically, these patients with potentially aggressive prostate cancer should be actively treated and closely monitored in contrast to men with less aggressive prostate cancer who may safely choose “watchful waiting,” especially if they are elderly, the researchers say.

“Most patients diagnosed with prostate cancer have slow-growing tumors that don’t need aggressive therapy, but doctors do not have a way to identify the few men whose cancer is potentially dangerous. The result is that many patients are over-treated,” stated Dr Marja Nevalainen assistant professor in the Department of Oncology at Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, and principal investigator of the study.