Molecular genetics of prostate cancer

Despite the substantial clinical importance of prostate cancer, the molecul ar mechanisms underlying the development and progression of the disease are poorly understood. The aim of molecular genetics is to reveal the genetic alterations and genes that are involved in disease processes. Linkage analy sis have already implicated four chromosomal loci that may harbour prostate cancer susceptibility genes. In addition, chromosomal alterations in prost ate tumors have been studied using several techniques, such as comparative genomic hybridization. These analyses have indicated that losses of chromos omes 6q, 8p, 10q, 13q, and 16q, as well as gains of 7, 8q, and Xq are parti cularly common in prostate cancer. There is also a strong evidence, that ge nes, such as androgen receptor gene (AR), e-cadherin, and PTEN, are involve d in the development and progression of prostate cancer. However, the targe t genes for most of the above mentioned chromosomal alterations as well as the genes predisposing to prostate cancer have not been cloned yet. The ide ntification of those genes should be the utmost goal of basic research of p rostate cancer, today.