Researchers identify DNA damage processes in most prostate cancer cases

An international team of researchers, coordinated by Spain’s National Cancer Research Center (CNIO), has identified eight defective cellular processes responsible for genetic damage in 85 percent of prostate cancer cases. The study, published in the journal Nature, involved the analysis of 959 complete tumor genomes from men across seven countries, marking the largest genomic analysis of this disease to date.

The findings reveal that the balance between internal failures, such as DNA replication and hormonal signaling, determines tumor aggressiveness. Notably, the study found an absence of traces from external factors like tobacco, suggesting that the damage stems primarily from internal biological mechanisms. This biological map could eventually assist in patient classification and the development of personalized treatments for the disease, which is the fifth leading cause of cancer death in men globally.