Protein may predict prostate cancer growth

WASHINGTON, Aug 15, 2005 (United Press International via COMTEX) -- Testing for an activated Stat5 protein in prostate tumors predicts whether the cancer will become more aggressive and life threatening, U.S. researchers say.

Scientists at the Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center at Georgetown University in Washington said "Stat5" protein in the nucleus of prostate cancer cells is a significant predictor of which patients would develop a worrisome recurrence years after their prostate cancer was initially treated.

Stat5 is a protein that, when activated, signals cancer cells to continually grow and survive. The study investigated prostate cancer biopsies or prostate cancer tissues obtained by surgery from 357 prostate cancer patients, and matched active Stat5 levels with outcome.

Given further validation, the researchers say their findings offer hope that a "biomarker" can be developed to help oncologists and urologists to identify patients that are more likely to have a recurring or eventually life-threatening prostate cancer.

The study is detailed in the current issue of the journal Clinical Cancer Research.