Novel method to track precisely prostate cancer progression
In the fight against tumours, how the key driver mutations related to disease progression and metastatic spread regulate gene expression to promote ultimately tumor progression and cancer cell adaptation to therapies have remained largely elusive. Using the gene expression fingerprint of cancer cells, researchers at the Istitute of Oncology Research (IOR, affiliated to USI Universitą della Svizzera italiana) in Bellinzona have now developed a novel method to track precisely prostate cancer progression in an unprecedented manner. Nature Communications published these findings in early December. Background Comprehensive genomic studies have delineated key driver mutations linked to disease progression and metastatic spread for most cancers. However, how these driver mutations regulate gene expression to promote ultimately tumor progression and cancer cell adaptation to therapies have remained largely elusive. Gene expression includes the formation of messenger RNA (mRNA) on a DNA template (transcription) and the synthesis of the corresponding protein (translation). Using the gene expression fingerprint of cancer cells, researchers at the Institute of Oncology Research (IOR, affiliated to USI Universitą della Svizzera italiana) in Bellinzona have now developed a novel method to track precisely prostate cancer progression in an unprecedented manner.
