HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Genes will predict outcome of PCa

Support Forums
>
Prostate Cancer
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 8/16/2011 11:32 AM (GMT 0)
At least in mice

Relationship of two genes will predict outcome of PCa. Only 1% of those diagnosed will develop metastic disease.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110815121333

Posted 8/16/2011 5:36 PM (GMT 0)

First Sentence of Article said...
Of the 250,000 American men who will be diagnosed with prostate cancer this year, very few of them -- about 1 percent -- will develop lethal, metastatic disease.


No comments on this? I thought it was 3 percent.
Posted 8/16/2011 6:13 PM (GMT 0)
Blatently false. about 18% of those Dxed with PC will die from it, and many more will have metastic disease and die from something else.
Posted 8/16/2011 7:18 PM (GMT 0)
That 18% looks an awful lot like the following back-of-the-envelope calculation:

Take 600 men, 100 of them (1 in 6) will be DXed, but 3% of them (18) will die from PCa. Therefore 18/100 = 18%.

Not trying to be facetious, just trying to make sense of the statistics.
Posted 8/16/2011 9:39 PM (GMT 0)
I'm involved in a research project at Northwestern University medical school and Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago, focusing on genetic relationships to prostate cancer. It's too early in the project to have any sort of results.
Posted 8/16/2011 9:44 PM (GMT 0)
The 1 in 6 and the 3% death rate are real numbers based on the population of the US; so the sample size is very large making any possible error rate due to sampling size insignificant. So the 18% is a good number. Your math is correct.
Posted 8/16/2011 11:28 PM (GMT 0)
Here's another report from today on similar research. This is about five genes, rather than two, and they're different.

5 Genes Linked to Aggressive Prostate Cancer
Study Could Lead to Test That Determines Which Patients Need Aggressive Treatment
By Salynn Boyles WebMD Health News

Aug. 16, 2011 -- Researchers in Seattle and Sweden have identified five inherited genetic markers that could help spot men with the most aggressive and deadly forms of prostate cancer. They say the discovery may lead to a simple blood test to help distinguish between men with prostate cancer who need aggressive treatment and those who don't. ... Genetic markers that can distinguish between patients with aggressive and non-aggressive prostate cancers are urgently needed, Janet L. Stanford, PhD, of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center tells WebMD. She adds that the markers identified by her research team represent the first evidence that gene variants known as single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) play a role in prostate cancer progression. [more...]

www.webmd.com/prostate-cancer/news/20110816/5-genes-linked-to-aggressive-prostate-cancer
Posted 8/17/2011 12:49 AM (GMT 0)
Seems lime this would having cancer much easier. If I don't have the genes, have my primary treatment and get on with life.

If I have the genes, have the treatment that will give me the highest quality of life for the max amount of time, deal with the consequences as they come, and pray for a cure.

Goodlife
Posted 8/17/2011 12:59 PM (GMT 0)
Our local CBS TV affiliate this morning covered this story and it caught my eye. If a gene that causes hereditary aggressive PCa could be marked, it would mean that anyone possessing the gene could be monitored at an earlier age than normal. This could be significant in reducing PCa deaths. The downside with genetic marking is that it might open the door for insurance companies to deny or limit insurance coverage if you have a genetic disease marker.

I was just happy to see our local news station cover something about PCa.

Terry the Water Guy

Posted 4/24/2013 3:39 PM (GMT 0)
This is an old discussion, but I came across it again when I was searching for something else. I recently, earlier this year, had some DNA testing done and a portion of the results gave an opinion on health issues. My DNA report indicated a 40/45% greater chance of developing Prostate Cancer than the average male. The report came about 4.5 years after I was diagnosed and had my prostate removed. And about 3 years after my brother had his removed, for cancerous reasons. So, yes, the DNA sleuths are becoming better equipped to suggest, well in advance of it happening, what the probability is. I recognize not everyone wants to have this type of information provided .. be it altzheimers, prostate cancer, etc., but I'm one who does.
Posted 4/24/2013 4:00 PM (GMT 0)
Not to ask a dumb question, did the 1%, MR Bill referenced, refer to the mice, seriously?
Posted 4/24/2013 5:58 PM (GMT 0)
My original oncologist, said it then, with my other cancers prior to PC, that its all in the genetics, somewhere, and one day all cancers will be able to be predicted fairly accurately based on a person's unique genetic make up. I still believe this, even with PC on hand.

david
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply