BIOMARKERS OF PROSTATE CANCER: A REVIEW

Abstract

Prostate cancer, an enigma and challenge is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in males in the United States, accounting for an estimated 186,320 new cases in 2008. Most diagnoses are currently being made in patients who have early stages of the disease and no symptoms. The focus has now moved from early detection to determining the clinical significance of these early-stage tumors. The identification of specific prostate cancer biomarkers can have a significant effect on the prognosis, diagnosis and treatment options for patients. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and digital rectal exams remain the hallmark assessments for screening individuals for prostate cancer. Genomic¬and proteomic-based studies have led to the identification of a large number of candidate biomarkers, as well as signature patterns of multiple markers for prostate cancer diagnosis, disease progression and prediction of survival. While these candidates include the usual suspects, including oncogenes, proliferation markers and cytoskeletal proteins, there are many additional unexpected molecules involved in processes such as transcriptional repression and fatty acid metabolism. These markers can be measured in serum, tissue or urine samples. Future research should focus on validation of already existing biomarkers and the discovery of new markers to identify men with aggressive prostate cancer.