Potential new marker for prostate cancer discovered

The discovery of a new protein thought to be unique to prostate cancer patients could prove to be a major breakthrough in the diagnosis and treatment of the disease.

Researchers at the University of Liverpool have identified two versions of the PKCZ protein – a conventional strain and a new alternative version that is only created within prostate cancer cells.

This new form is created under the influence of the PRKCZ gene, which has been previously shown by scientists to contain a sequence with the potential to influence the behaviour of cancerous cells, making them more virulent.

The team will now seek to determine what role this protein plays in disease progression, as drugs could be developed to reduce its effects if it turns out to be encouraging greater aggression.

Dr Julie Sharp, senior science information manager at Cancer Research UK, said: "With more than 40,000 men now diagnosed each year with the disease there's an urgent need to develop tests that tell us how the disease is behaving."

In 2009, around 40,800 men were diagnosed with prostate cancer, compared to only 14,000 in 1989.