They studied samples of more than 250 men.
Scientists have for the first time identified that there are five distinct types of prostate cancer, each with a characteristic genetic fingerprint.
The findings could have important implications for how doctors treat prostate cancer in the future, by identifying tumours that are more likely to grow and spread aggressively through the body. The researchers, from the Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute and Addenbrooke's Hospital, studied samples of healthy and cancerous prostate tissues from more than 250 men.
By looking for abnormal chromosomes and measuring the activity of 100 different genes linked to the disease they were able to group the tumours into five distinct types, each with a characteristic genetic fingerprint. This analysis was better at predicting which cancers were likely to be the most aggressive than the tests currently used by doctors - including the Prostate-Specific Antigen Test and Gleason score.
However, the findings need to be confirmed in clinical trials with larger groups of men. "Our exciting results show that prostate cancer can be classified into five genetically-different types," said study author Alastair Lamb, from the Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute. "These findings could help doctors decide on the best course of treatment for each individual patient, based on the characteristics of their tumour. "By carrying out more research into how the different diseases behave we might be able to develop more effective ways to treat prostate cancer patients in the future, saving more lives," Lamb said.
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in the UK, with around 41,700 cases diagnosed every year. There are around 10,800 deaths from the disease each year in the UK. The study was published in the journal EBioMedicine.
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