Determine the “conclusive evidence” of the development and spread of prostate cancer

A study conducted by Aarhus University in Denmark discovered a gene that determines whether patients with prostate cancer will see the disease spread to other sites in the body.

Associate Professor Martin K. Thomsen, from the Department of Biomedicine: “We identified the KMT2C gene, which is very important for the spread of prostate cancer, and losing it increases the risk of metastasis.”spain

He added: "This gene is conclusive evidence of the development of the disease, and can form the basis for examining patients in the future."

In the study, researchers used CRISPR-Cas9 technology to create genetically modified mouse models containing 8 mutant genes (also frequently mutated in prostate cancer in humans), with the aim of studying the complex functions related to the development of prostate cancer, and revealing the molecular functions of the genes.

“All of the mice developed lung metastases, and further research showed that loss of the KMT2C gene was critical in the formation of those metastases,” Thomsen said.

He also explains: “While many other researchers rely on CRISPR to treat diseases, we do the opposite: we try to create a model of the disease so that we can study it. The study tells us what genes are important for the development of cancer, but also how CRISPR can be used in cancer research.” "Modern".

The study results come on the heels of two recent studies from Spain and the United States, which identified the genes PRMT7 and CITED2 as critical regulators of prostate cancer spread.

The study was published in the journal Nature Communications.