Molecule May Predict Prostate Cancer's Return

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"What needs to be done is [for the researchers] to show us what this marker tells us that we don't already know from other markers," said Dr. Anthony D'Amico, chief of radiation oncology at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. "We can't tell from this study whether this marker is providing new information or information that's already contained in other markers."

If the marker does add something new it would be important, D'Amico said. "Any marker that provides us with additional information about prognosis sets itself up as a target for future therapies," he noted.

Another expert suspects B7-H3 might prove very useful in the future.

"The problem in prostate cancer is that we know we diagnose a lot of prostate cancer, but we know that only a small number of them will go on to really cause a man difficulty," said Dr. Len Lichtenfeld, deputy chief medical officer for the American Cancer Society.

The goal is to find markers that sort prostate cancers into aggressive and less aggressive types, Lichtenfeld said. "This marker may help us in this process," he added.

He also believes more biomarkers are yet to be identified.

"Ultimately, when someone is diagnosed with prostate cancer we will take a look at their cancer tissue and look at many of these markers and be able to come up with a profile that gives us much more accurate information about prognosis and treatment," Lichtenfeld said.

More information

For more information on prostate cancer, visit the American Cancer Society.