Diagnostic and prognostic molecular biomarkers for prostate cancer

Abstract

Prostate cancer is the most common malignant tumour in men and is a major research focus of pathologists, urologists and uro-oncologists alike. The pathologist is confronted with an increasing number of biospsies, necessitating ancillary tests in morphologically challenging cases. Next to basal cell markers, additional positive markers that aid in the differential diagnosis are presented here. The clinical decision of urologists, whom and how to treat these men, is dependent predominantly on pathological parameters, but still the grid spanned by these is too wide to allow a sufficient prognostication of the individual case. Here, a brief and critical overview is given of recent developments of prognostic biomarkers in prostate cancer.

Development and Clinical Validation of a Real-Time PCR Assay for PITX2 DNA Methylation to Predict Prostate-Specific Antigen Recurrence in Prostate Cancer Patients Following Radical Prostatectomy

“…26 In addition, there are numerous studies on DNA methylation biomarkers for prostate cancer prognosis. 27 However, none of the biomarkers has been successfully implemented into routine clinical practice.…”

Homogeneous Protein Analysis by Magnetic Core–Shell Nanorod Probes

“…for investigating protein-protein or protein-DNA interactions 1,2 , but also presents the key to medical applications such as molecular diagnostics 3,4 . Studying molecular interactions directly in solution is accomplished by homogeneous measurement principles, which, in contrast 3 to heterogeneous techniques, do not rely on diffusion to and interaction with binding partners immobilized on macroscopic surfaces.…”

TMPRSS2-ERG gene fusion in prostate cancer

“…Although the sensitivity of this marker is approximately 50%, its predictive value is higher than other markers such as PSA or prostein, which are found only in 28% of cases of prostate small cell carcinoma 99 . Detection of ERG rearrangement in small cell carcinoma, and in other epithelial and nonepithelial tumors, clearly confirms the prostatic origin of tumor 80,100 . The TMPRSS2-ERG gene fusion in PCa makes it a desirable therapeutic target.…”

“…There are several explanations for these controversial observations such as clinical settings (surgical or other interventions immediately after diagnosis versus conservative management), size of patient cohorts, differences in sample collection and in the technique used for determination of gene fusions 10,79 . Crucial issues are the definitions of study endpoints such as biochemical failure (rise in serum PSA after prostatectomy) versus overall/ disease-specific survival 80 . The disconcordant results may also be caused by the actual characteristics of PCa, such as PCa heterogeneity, the presence of the fusion variants and geographical and/or ethnical differences 10 .…”