Gene has opposite effects on prostate and breast cancer

Scientists have identified a gene that has opposite effects on prostate cancer and breast cancer.

A team from the Cleveland Clinic reported in an article published in journal Oncogene that a gene – known as an androgen receptor (AR) – plays a very different role in the emergence of both of the diseases.

In prostate cancer, the AR gene was found to promote cancer growth when the gene is 'turned on', while in breast cancer the growth is seen when the gene is 'turned off', something which often occurs after menopause.

This means that the treatment of these diseases requires completely opposite methods in terms of the approach to AR.

The research, which focuses on the tumor suppressor protein PTEN, found that AR inhibits PTEN production in prostate cancer, but promotes it in breast cancer.

"Our observations help explain why this prostate cancer risk can be halved by drinking red wine, which increases PTEN expression. Our data also suggest that treatment of the exact same cancer must be personalized for males and for females," said Dr Charis Eng, chair of the Genomic Medicine Institute and co-author of the study.