Marker genes for prostate cancer classification
The present invention relates to a method for classifying a prostate cancer in a subject, the method comprising the steps of a) determining a gene expression level or gene expression pattern of the genes F3 and IGFBP3 in a sample from the subject and b) classifying the tumor by comparing the gene expression level determined in a) with a reference gene expression of the same genes in reference patients known to have a high risk tumor respectively. In addition the invention relates to a method for determining prognosis of a subject diagnosed with prostate cancer, a method for making a treatment decision for a subject diagnosed with prostate cancer and a solid support or a kit for classifying a tumor in a subject diagnosed with prostate cancer.
1. A process comprising the steps of
providing a sample from a prostate tumor in a subject; and
measuring the level of expression in the sample of a set of genes consisting of the F3, IGFBP3, and VGLL3 genes, and optionally one of the genes WNTB5 and CTGF or both.
2. The process of claim 1 , where the tumor sample is obtained by fine needle aspiration (FNA), needle biopsy, or surgery.
3. The process of claim 1 , wherein the level of expression is measured by quantifying the amount of RNA or mRNA expressed from the genes.
4. The process of claim 3 , wherein the amount of RNA or mRNA is determined by use of microarray technology, or by use of Northern blotting and quantitative PCR.
5. The process of claim 4 , wherein the quantitative PCR is real time quantitative PCR or multiplex PCR.
6. The process of claim 1 , wherein the level of expression is measured by measuring the amount of protein which is encoded by the gene(s) in the sample.
7. The process of claim 6 , wherein the amount of protein is measured by immunohistochemistry, Western blotting, ELISA, RIA, or mass spectrometry.