The prognosis of prostate cancer varies between individuals. It has always been assumed that this is due to intrinsic differences in the make-up the tumour cells and  the tumour grading (assessed down the microscope) is one good example of this influence.

An interesting study has just been published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology from Japan suggesting that the genomic constitution of the patient may influence suurvival (i.e. have an influence on tumour progression).

These workers studied 13 polymorphisms amongst 111 patients with metastatic prostate cancer and found that polymorphisms of the long allele of insuin like growth factor and those of the long allele of cytochrome p450 (CYP) 19 were associated with eventual patient outcome.

The authors conclude that the prognosis (outcome) of patients with metastatic prostate cancer is influenced by intrinsic genetic factors.