Discovery about a cause of prostate cancer rewarded

[Gemlin_]

Interesting, maybe can lead to new forms of treatment?

Arul M. Chinnaiyan, University of Michigan, USA, is awarded this year’s Sjöberg Prize, worth one million US dollars, for his discovery of the fusion gene responsible for more than half of all prostate cancer cases. This has significantly improved our understanding of one of the most common types of cancer and already contributed to better diagnostics. It also holds great potential for improving the care of thousands of patients in the future.

kva.se/en/pressrum/pressmed...

[Tall_Allen]

I can't read the link, but if he discovered the TMPRSS2:ERG fusion gene, there is a test to detect it.

[allie2020 in reply to Tall_Allen]

Tall,

I was able to open the link and yes, it is a fusion of the erg gene and the tmpress2 gene. (Way above my pay grade). Here's another copy of the link:

kva.se/en/pressrum/pressmed...

[Gemlin_ in reply to Tall_Allen]

Yes, it is the discovery of TMPRSS2:ERG gene fusion he is rewarded for. Do you think the discovery is worth a price? So there is a commercial test available. Do you know where/when the test is used and what the clinical value of the test result is? Thanks!

[Tall_Allen in reply to Gemlin_]

It was touted for a while as a non-PSA blood test for detection (given along with PSA-based blood tests). At the time I looked at it, it was too expensive and not covered by insurance:

mlabs.umich.edu/tests/mps-m...

Other than improving the initial detection of prostate cancer, and being one (of many) genomic risk factors for progression, I don't know of any therapeutic value.

[TheTopBanana in reply to Tall_Allen]

Can you get the test in Europe?

[Tall_Allen in reply to TheTopBanana]

You would have to write to them. It is only for undiagnosed men.