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Written By: Admin | Published : July 13, 2013 5:14 PM IST
Scientists have found that nerves play a crucial role in both the development and spread of prostate tumours - the second most common form of cancer in men, says a study. The findings by researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University, using both a mouse model and human prostate tissue, may lead to new ways to predict the aggressiveness of prostate cancer and to novel therapies for preventing and treating the disease, says the study published online in the July 12 edition of 'Science'. Prostate cancer is second to skin cancer as the most common cancer in men. The National Cancer Institute estimates that 238,590 new cases of prostate cancer will be diagnosed in 2013, and 29,720 men will die from the disease, reports Science Daily.
The study was led by stem-cell expert Paul Frenette, professor of medicine and of cell biology and director of the Ruth L. and David S. Gottesman Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Research at Einstein.
Nerves are commonly found around tumours, but their role in the growth and progression of cancer has not been clear.
Since there might be similarities between the haematopoeitic stem cell niche and the stem cell niches found in cancer, we thought that sympathetic nerves might also have a role in tumour development, said Frenette. It turns out that in prostate cancer, not only are sympathetic nerves involved, but so too are parasympathetic nerves.
What is prostate cancer?
Prostate cancer forms in tissues of the prostate (a gland in the male reproductive system) and is one of the leading causes of cancer in men above the age of 60. Most cases could be slow growing and may even go undetected and not cause any problem. Some could be aggressive and can spread to other parts of the body and are difficult to treat. It usually presents with difficulty and pain during urination, blood in the urine along with sexual dysfunction. Advanced cases may present with bone pain in addition to the urinary symptoms. Prostate cancer is very rare before the age of 40 but the risk increases with age and most cases are detected in the late 60s.
Source: IANS
