Prostate cancer is among the most common forms of cancers afflicting men across the world and a leading cause of death. Still, it remains one of the more difficult cancers to diagnose, with the common PSA test resulting in over-diagnosis and unneeded medical attention.
New research from the University of Adelaide has shown there may be another method to accurately diagnosing prostate cancer: biomarkers in seminal fluid.
The new study published in the Endocrine-Related Cancer academic journal shows that by analyzing and understanding the seminal fluid from 60 men, the researchers were able to identify small molecules, microRNAs, that were accurate in determining which men had prostate cancer, as well as understanding the severity of the disease.
"Biomarkers that can accurately detect prostate cancer at an early stage and identify aggressive tumors are urgently needed to improve patient care," says lead author of the study Dr. Luke Selth, a Young Investigator of the Prostate Cancer Foundation in the United States.
By looking at microRNAs, the researchers were able to discover a number of those molecules known to be increased in levels of prostate cancer, but they can also be used to control gene expression, which with further research and study, could help to understand how prostate cancer functions in order to better combat the cancerous cells in the body.
The research also uncovered a specific microRNA called miR-200b, which could help separate men with low tumors from those with higher-grade ones, which is vital to helping to diagnose and deliver the proper treatment needed for those specific individuals.
"This is important," explains Selth, "because, as a potential prognostic tool, it will help to indicate the urgency and type of treatment required."
While the new research is optimistic in the ongoing battle against cancers, Selth and his team are hopeful that it is just the beginning and that through further research and larger test groups, they can continue to pinpoint specific markers that will assist doctors and medical professionals in understanding how cancer works, how to diagnose it better, and what treatments should be given based on the new data.
Selth says they are "excited by the potential clinical application of microRNAs in a range of body fluids," and added that he and his colleagues are looking forward to planning more research in order to validate their results with larger test groups.
