Great News For Prostate Cancer

Myriad Prolaris (R) test has shown to significantly predict prostrate cancer outcome from tissue biopsy.

Approximately 241,000 men are diagnosed annually in the U.S. with prostate cancer. It is the most common cancer among U.S. males and is responsible for more deaths in men than any other cancer except lung cancer. Today the most common treatments for men diagnosed with localized prostate cancer include surgery, radiation and active surveillance.

                                         Explanation of Diagnosing Prostate Cancer

PROLARIS

Optimal management of clinically localized prostate cancer presents a unique challenge to physicians and patients, because it is a highly variable and often slow growing, nonaggressive cancer. More men will die with prostate cancer than of it. Prolaris was developed to aid physicians in predicting disease aggressiveness in conjunction with clinical parameters such as Gleason score and PSA. Prolaris measures the expression level of genes involved with cell cycle progression to predict disease outcome. The signature has been evaluated in four retrospective clinical studies:

SALT LAKE CITY, Feb. 24, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Myriad Genetics, Inc. (Nasdaq:MYGN) announced today that a study published in the British Journal of Cancer demonstrated the prognostic ability of the Company's Prolaris test in needle biopsy material. The study entitled, "Prognostic Value of a Cell Cycle Progression Signature for Prostate Cancer Death in a Conservatively Managed Needle Biopsy Cohort," highlighted the ability of the test to significantly and accurately predict prostate cancer aggressiveness and consequent death from the disease.
"The Prolaris test offers men and healthcare providers a tool to make better-informed treatment decisions based on the aggressiveness of prostate cancer," said Jerry Lanchbury Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer of Myriad Genetics Inc. "We believe this test will provide critical information needed to avoid unnecessary and life altering morbidities associated with treating the disease in men who have a less aggressive form of prostate cancer."
Researchers at the Queen Mary, University of London, and Myriad, analyzed the Prolaris Score of 349 prostate cancer patients who had been diagnosed by needle biopsy and managed conservatively. The authors concluded that the Prolaris test was the most significant predictor of disease aggressiveness and death, and may be a valuable tool in managing prostate cancer. Specifically, they found that the 81 percent of prostate cancer patients with lower Prolaris Scores when left untreated had an excellent five-year survival rate of 93 percent. Unfortunately, the probability of death from untreated prostate cancer increased significantly in men with high Prolaris Scores. In the 19 percent of prostate cancer patients with higher Prolaris Scores, the five-year survival rate was only 63 percent and the ten-year survival rate was 44 percent.
In discussing the results of the study, the authors highlighted the unmet clinical need in this field, namely, the inability of current clinical parameters to distinguish men with a fast-growing form of prostate cancer who are appropriate for aggressive treatment, such as radical prostatectomy or radiation, from those with an indolent or less aggressive form who are candidates for active surveillance. The Prolaris test was developed to provide a solution for this significant unmet clinical need in an effort to provide patients and physicians with the ability to better predict disease outcome, thereby optimizing treatment and decision making. With this fourth clinical study, the Prolaris test has been shown, in a total of over 1450 patients, to consistently be a highly prognostic tool to assess the aggressiveness of a man's prostate cancer.
Cancer Research UK was involved in funding this research.

For more information:
http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/news.html?d=246723 or

http://www.myriad.com/products/prolaris.php

 

Tumor Markers

When cancer is present certain tumor markers are present.  Tumor markers are proteins that can be found in blood  and  can be increased with certain cancers.  Tumor markers can also be in other body fluids such as urine and in tumors.  Most tumor markers are proteins but some  of newer ones are genes and other substances.
The procedure for testing for tumor markers is first a blood draw or urine specimen is sent to the lab for testing.  The specimen is then combined with man-made antibodies that react with the tumor marker protein.
Rarely is a tumor marker is used to diagnose if a cancer is present.  The oncologist uses a battery of testing in the diagnosis of cancer such as pet scan, MRI, biopsies,etc.  Tumor markers are helpful in knowing the progression of the cancer during treatment.

Oncologist usually order the following tumor markers.

CEA Carcinoembryonic antigen is a protein associated with certain tumors and fetus.  It is a glycoprotein and associated with the plasma membrane of a tumor membrane.  It is from the plasma membrane that the carcinoembryonic antigen is released.  At first it was used to identify colon caner but was later found in other cancers such as pancreatic,lung,gastric and breast.  CEA was also found in non-cancer illnesses such as cirrhosis,

bowel inflammatory disease, chronic lung disease and pancreatitis.  In advanced stage of cancer the CEA is elevated which means that the cancer survival of the patient is shortened.

AFP-  Alpha- fetoprotein  SELL has determined that this is the most single discriminating laboratory test indicative of a malignant disease.  It is used in screening hepatatocellular disease.  

AFP is elevated in testicular germ cell tumors containing embryonal or endodermal sinus elements. A defenitive positive marker value is highly sensitive in indicating relapse or response to treatment.

HCG - In pregnancy the HCG is produced by the syncytiotrophoblastic cells of the placenta and of course is elevated in pregnancy. It is a highly sensitive test in the detecting the smallest of trophoblastic neoplasms in women.  The larger the tumor then the higher the HCG result. The HCG is essential for the oncologist measuring the effectiveness of the treatment.

Neuron Specific Enolase - Neuron indicates that this is part of the brain.  When "ase" is seen at the end of the scientific word it is an enzyme.  NSE is an isozyme of the glycolytic pathway that is strictly seen in the brain and the neuroendocrine tissue.  This tumor marker is valuable in diagnosing and evaluating the treatment of tumors of the central nervous system, neuroblastomas, and APUD tumors.  NSE is a immunohistochemical marker for tumors. 

CA125  is a helpful tool in ovarian cancer because it is found in about 80% of non mucinous ovarian carcinomas.  It is elevated on ovarian cancer.  CA125 is used to let the oncologist know if the treatment for the cancer is working. CA125 is elevated in other cancers such as pancreas, endometrial,lung, breast and colon.

CA19-9 is an monoclonal antibody generated against colon carcinoma cell line to detect monosialoganglioside found in tissues of persons with gastrointestinal adenocarcinoma.  It is also elevated in gastric, pancreatic, and colon cancer.


CA 15.3  helps to monitor certain cancers but most prominently breast cancer.  This antigen sheds sheds into the blood because it is found on the surface of many types of cancer. It has been found that CA 15.3 in conjunction with Alkaline Phosphatase  is elevated is found to be associated with increase chance of early recurrence of breast cancer.  This marker is used to monitor treatment of breast cancer.


PSA  means prostrate specific antigen.  Another name is gamma-seminoprotein or Kallikrein.  It is a glycoprotein and in humans it is encoded with KLK3 gene. It is secreted by the epithelial cells for the prostrate gland. Normal levels of PSA is produced in all men, but is elevated in prostrate cancer and other prostrate problems.  PSA  serum levels are drawn regularly from patients who are being treated to help the oncolgist know the progression of the cancer.

For more information go to tc-cancer.com  , wilkipedia, National Cancer Institute