In 2013, Myriad Genetic failed – in a case that was heard in the United States Supreme Court - to patent the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. We all have these two genes which, when they mutate, are associated with breast, ovarian and prostate cancers. If Myriad succeeded, they would have controlled patents on these genes [...]
Making treatment decisions once you have been diagnosed with prostate cancer is difficult. Often, it is impossible to accurately and reliably be able to predict the eventual course of the cancer. Prostate cancer, besides being one of the slower growing cancers, is also one of the deadliest. So good, informed decisions are vital. The original [...]
The constant hope and conversation of late has surrounded what is referred to as a liquid biopsy. The hope and goal is to no longer need to have an invasive needle biopsy to diagnose and stage prostate cancer. Biopsies are not accurate because there are too many false negatives, they only evaluate the actual tissue [...]
There have been a number of studies that have linked male pattern baldness with a higher risk of developing prostate cancer. A possible explanation for why baldness is a risk factor for the development of prostate cancer is that hormones play a role in both baldness and in prostate cancer. We known that baldness joins [...]
African American men get more prostate cancer and more lethal forms of prostate cancer than men of other ethnicities. We assume that a combination of genetic differences, lifestyle, nutritional and medical access were the reasons for this disparity. Understanding the role of these different possible contributors is important if we are to be able to [...]
Men of African origin are disproportionately affected by prostate cancer. You can read more Malecare's African American men and Prostate Cancer website, Twice As Many http://twiceasmany.org Three specific statistics tell the story. 1- In the United States, the incidence of prostate cancer is highest among men of African origin. 2- Prostate cancer mortality is highest among [...]
Last year GenomeDx Biosciences presented data showing that its Decipher® Prostate Cancer Classifier (the test), a genomic test, is capable of predicting the probability that a man will eventually develop metastatic prostate cancer, despite having surgery as a primary treatment for prostate cancer. The company claims that the test out performs other existing tests of [...]
I have talked a lot about our need to take the next step in clinical care, understanding the best sequencing of our drugs. Since we have a number of new drugs to treat advanced prostate cancer we now need to better understand which drugs should be used in which men as well as their proper [...]
Cancer is a genetic disease, so prostate cancer is a genetic problem. This statement might be the most important one we can make when trying to describe the current, overall situation we face as prostate cancer survivors! Many institutions have begun significant research studies trying to understand the actual genetic keys to prostate cancer. Prostate [...]
