Genetic susceptibility to aggressive prostate cancer

Abstract

In aggregate, the above studies make three important points. First, no single approach will work for finding genes associated with prostate cancer. The disease is both genetically and phenotypically complex. Linkage, candidate gene association, and perhaps more importantly, functional studies are needed once a specific mutation or variant is suspected. Second, a data set is only as strong as the phenotypes which define it. Those making progress in solving the problem of susceptibility to aggressive prostate cancer have done so because they have diligently obtained medical records, pathology reports, and tumor specimens. Partnerships with clinical colleagues are a vital part of solving problems in complex trait analyses. Finally, data sets for both linkage and candidate gene evaluations are almost always limited by sample size. Meta-analyses or combined studies achieve greater power for evaluating more hypotheses, without the loss of statistical power that results when looking at subgroups. Investigators worldwide who are involved in research on genetic susceptibility to prostate cancer have formed a true community that has worked hard to build the infrastructure and obtain resources for carrying out large combined studies. Such an approach would certainly benefit those studying a host of complex diseases. Copyright © 2006 American Association for Cancer Research.