Improving Risk Stratification
Two genes have been identified that may be linked to prostate cancer outcomes
Credit: R Wiebringhaus et al., Cancers, 13, 6036 (2021). PMID: 34885151.
Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers in men – and one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths. Unfortunately, due to the heterogeneity of the cancer, it’s difficult to properly stratify risk in diagnosed patients. Though some tissue changes have been found, the information has not yet led to improvements in diagnosis and treatment.
Previously, the STAT3 protein has been associated with tumor suppression in prostate cancer. Scientists have now built on this research to identify novel markers that indicate poorer survival in patients with aggressive prostate cancer (1). In a STAT3 cohort, they found that high expression of NDUFS1/ATP5O was linked to earlier biochemical recurrence of prostate cancer, indicating that the genes could be used to identify high-risk patients.
- R Wiebringhaus et al., Cancers (Basel), 13, 6036 (2021). PMID: 34885151.
During my undergraduate degree in psychology and Master’s in neuroimaging for clinical and cognitive neuroscience, I realized the tasks my classmates found tedious – writing essays, editing, proofreading – were the ones that gave me the greatest satisfaction. I quickly gathered that rambling on about science in the bar wasn’t exactly riveting for my non-scientist friends, so my thoughts turned to a career in science writing. At Texere, I get to craft science into stories, interact with international experts, and engage with readers who love science just as much as I do.
