Three new studies have found seven genetic mutations that could increase the risk of developing prostate cancer. The authors report in the latest issue o the journal Nature Genetics and reveal that one mutation may hike the risk of the cancer by as much as 60 percent.

Researchers at The Institute of Cancer Research in the UK have identified seven new genetic mutations that when present together increase the risk of prostate cancer ten fold. The genes were discovered after a through analysis of 10,000 individuals.

The seven genes associated with the cancer are new discoveries and had not been previously linked to prostate tumors. One gene called MSMB is a potential target for developing screening tests as its levels can be measured in the blood. Another gene LMTK2 has been previously implicated in other cancer as well as in Alzheimer's disease.

"From a public health point of view, this could be very helpful because it will allow us to target scarce resources to where they are really needed," said lead researcher Dr Ros Eeles.

Meanwhile Researchers from Decode Genetics Inc in Iceland reported two new genetic changes linked with prostate cancer and said they would offer a genetic test to gauge the risk of this cancer in men.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men across the world. Some 680,000 are diagnosed with the cancer annually and around 220,000 succumb to it. More often than not prostate cancer is an incidental finding in autopsies as men die from some other cause altogether.

When localized the cancer is slow-growing, but it can acquire lethal potential should it spread elsewhere.
 

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