New Genetic Link Found to Prostate Cancer

Finnish researchers have found that men with a mutation in the paraoxonase gene called PON1 l102V are six times more likely than other men to develop prostate cancer. The findings were reported at the annual meeting of the International Genetic Epidemiology Society in Redondo Beach, CA (USA).

The researchers, from Jurilab Ltd. (Kuopio, Finland) and the University of Kuopio, used a proprietary method of genetic analysis, called hierarchical phenotype targeted sequencing (HPTS), to find new variations in the paraoxonase gene. Paraoxonase is an important antioxidative enzyme. On the basis of their findings, the researchers believe that drugs and nutrients that enhance paraoxonase activity may be candidates for the prevention and treatment of prostate cancer.

Jurilab states that it has access to the world's most comprehensive DNA and databank available for research purposes. These unique data originate from the Eastern Finnish founder population, which exhibits a high degree of genetic homogeneity. This makes the population an excellent study group for research into genetic diseases. In the current study, HPTS was applied in a random population sample of about 1,000 men from Eastern Finland.

"Of all the known prostate cancer mutations, the gene variation that we have identified is the strongest indicator for the disease, underlining the power of our technology,” said Professor Jukka T. Salonen, CSO of Jurilab. "Theoretically, it could explain a sixth of all new prostate cancers and therefore may give us an excellent basis for genetic tests to predict the disease.”




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