Newly identified gene variants associated with prostate cancer risk

Three studies presenting newly identified genetic variants that are associated with increased susceptibility to prostate cancer were published recently (Feb. 10) on the advance online site of Nature Genetics. The 10 gene variants double the number of known variants associated with risk of the disease and are the result of genomewide association studies.

To better understand these new findings, Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) published a Q&A with David Hunter, a co-author of one of the papers. In the interview, Hunter discusses prostate cancer, the growing field of genome scans, and the potential pitfalls of personal genome profiling. Hunter is Vincent L. Gregory Professor in Cancer Prevention at HSPH.

To read the interview: http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/press-releases/2008-releases/qa-hunter-prostate-cancer-genome-scans-personal-profiling.html