Genetic factors key to prostate cancer death risk

A combination of three genetic abnormalities has a dramatic impact on how long prostate cancer patients are likely to live, researchers said on Wednesday, and gene tests could help doctors decide on the best treatments.

Scientists at Britain’s Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) said their findings showed prostate cancer patients should be tested for specific genetic factors before doctors decide how aggressively to treat their tumours.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men and the second highest cause of male cancer-related deaths across the world, killing around 254,000 men a year.