The Prostate Cancer Charity's Research Manager, Dr Kate Holmes,
said: "This is one of the first studies to examine the sequence and
structure of the genetic code as a whole, rather than one or more
single genes alone. This has allowed the researchers to identify
specific patterns where large disruptions in the structure of the
genetic code have taken place. These disruptions can rearrange the
way genes fit together and the way they function, which is often
associated with the development of aggressive prostate cancer.
"This is interesting research that highlights a new approach to
understanding the way prostate cancer develops. However, only 14
tissue biopsy samples were analysed in total. The next stage will
be to repeat the study on a much larger scale, which will be an
extensive piece of work. In order for this research to benefit men,
a method for simpler, rapid detection of these genetic changes in
prostate biopsy samples would also need to be developed."