In a significant advancement in prostate cancer research, scientists from MedUni Vienna, led by Lukas Kenner, have made a breakthrough discovery.
Their study, published in the journal Molecular Cancer, unveils how changes in a specific protein, KMT2C, play a crucial role in the growth and spread of prostate cancer.
Prostate cancer often remains localized, offering many patients a high chance of survival. However, about 20% of cases evolve into incurable metastatic prostate cancer, which spreads beyond the prostate.
Until now, the medical community has struggled to understand why only some prostate cancers become metastatic.
The MedUni Vienna team focused on the protein KMT2C. This protein is a key part of our genetic makeup and acts as a regulator of essential cell processes.
The researchers discovered that when KMT2C is altered by typical cancer-related mutations, it loses its regulatory power.
This loss of function leads to the activation of the cancer gene MYC, which is known to cause cells to divide rapidly. This increased cell division is a driving force behind both the growth and spread of prostate cancer.
A major revelation from this study is the potential for early diagnosis of aggressive prostate cancers through a simple blood test.
This test can detect the mutation status of KMT2C, indicating whether a patient is likely to develop a more aggressive form of the disease.
Moreover, the study sheds light on new treatment possibilities. MYC inhibitors, a new class of cancer drugs already being tested in clinical trials, could be effective in treating metastatic prostate cancer.
If further studies confirm these findings, these inhibitors could become a vital tool in treating advanced stages of the disease in the coming years.
This research marks a significant step forward in understanding the transition from localized to metastatic prostate cancer.
It opens new doors for both diagnosing and treating this disease, potentially changing the prognosis for many patients facing advanced prostate cancer.
The insights gained from the role of KMT2C mutations could revolutionize how medical professionals approach the diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer.
If you care about cancer risk, please read studies that exercise may stop cancer in its tracks, and vitamin D can cut cancer death risk.
For more information about cancer, please see recent studies that yogurt and high-fiber diet may cut lung cancer risk, and results showing that new cancer treatment may reawaken the immune system.
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