Phosphodiesterase 4D7 as marker for malignant, hormone-sensitive prostate cancer

1. A method for monitoring or prognosticating malignant, hormone-sensitive prostate cancer or the progression towards malignant, hormone-sensitive prostate cancer, comprising:

(a) detecting the level of PDE4D7 in a prostate tissue sample;

(b) detecting the level of expression of a reference gene in the sample, wherein the reference gene is a PDE4D5 gene;

(c) normalizing the measured expression level of PDE4D7 to the expression of the reference gene; and

(d) comparing the normalized expression level with a predetermined cutoff value chosen to exclude benign prostate tumor, wherein a normalized expression level above the cutoff value is indicative of a malignant, hormone-sensitive prostate cancer, wherein said cutoff value is between about −2 to +2.

2. A method for monitoring or prognosticating malignant, hormone-sensitive prostate cancer or the progression towards malignant, hormone-sensitive prostate cancer by discriminating between a benign prostate tumor and a malignant, hormone-sensitive prostate cancer, comprising:

(a) detecting the level of PDE4D7 in a prostate tissue sample;

(b) detecting the level of expression of a reference gene in the sample, wherein the reference gene is a PDE4D5 gene;

(c) normalizing the measured expression level of PDE4D7 to the expression of the reference gene; and

(d) comparing the normalized expression level with a predetermined cutoff value chosen to exclude benign prostate tumor, wherein a normalized expression level above the cutoff value is indicative of a malignant, hormone-sensitive prostate cancer, wherein said cutoff value is between about −2 and +2.

3. An immunoassay for detecting, monitoring or prognosticating malignant, hormone-sensitive prostate cancer or the progression towards malignant, hormone-sensitive prostate cancer, comprising at least the steps:

(a) testing in a prostate tissue sample obtained from an individual for the level of expression of PDE4D7,

(b) testing in a control sample for the level of expression of PDE4D7 and in the prostate tissue sample for the level of expression of a reference gene, wherein the control sample is selected from the group consisting of stromal prostate tissue, bladder epithelial tissue and urethra epithelial tissue and the reference gene is PDE4D5;

(c) determining the difference in the level of expression of PDE4D7 in step(a) and the level of expression of PDE4D7 and the level of expression of PDE4D5 in step (b) by normalizing the level of expression of PDE4D7 in step (a) and step (b) to the level of expression of PDE4D5 and comparing the normalized expression levels; and

(d) deciding on the presence or stage of cancer or the progression of cancer based on the results obtained in step (c) by comparing the normalized expression levels with a predetermined cutoff value chosen to exclude benign prostate tumor, wherein a normalized expression level above the cutoff value is indicative of a malignant, hormone-sensitive prostate cancer, wherein said cutoff value is between about −2 to +2,

wherein said testing steps are based on the use of an antibody specifically binding to PDE4D7.

4. An immunoassay for discriminating between a benign prostate tumor and a malignant, hormone-sensitive prostate cancer, comprising:

(a) detecting the level of PDE4D7 in a prostate tissue sample;

(b) detecting the level of expression of a reference gene in the sample, wherein the reference gene is PDE4D5;

(c) normalizing the measured expression level of PDE4D7 to the expression of the reference gene; and

(d) comparing the normalized expression level with a predetermined cutoff value chosen to exclude benign prostate tumor, wherein a normalized expression level above the cutoff value is indicative of a malignant, hormone-sensitive prostate cancer, wherein said cutoff value is between about −2 and +2.

5. A method of identifying an individual for eligibility for malignant, hormone-sensitive prostate cancer therapy, comprising:

(a) testing in a prostate tissue sample obtained from an individual for the expression of PDE4D7;

(b) testing in said sample for the expression of a reference gene and in a control sample for the expression of PDE4D7 wherein the control sample is selected from the group consisting of stromal prostate tissue, bladder epithelial tissue and urethra epithelial tissue and the reference gene is PDE4D5;

(c) classifying the levels of expression of step (a) relative to levels in step (b); and

(d) identifying the individual as eligible to receive a malignant, hormone-sensitive prostate cancer therapy where the individual's sample is classified as having an increased level of PDE4D7 expression.

6. An immunoassay for stratifying an individual or cohort of individuals with a malignant, hormone-sensitive prostate cancer disease comprising:

(a) testing in a sample obtained from an individual for the level of expression of PDE4D7;

(b) testing in said sample for the level of expression of a reference gene and in a control sample for the level of expression of PDE4D7, wherein the control sample is selected from the group consisting of stromal prostate tissue, bladder epithelial tissue and urethra epithelial tissue and the reference gene is PDE4D5;

(c) determining the difference in the level of expression of PDE4D7 in step(a) and the level of expression of PDE4D7 and the level of expression of PDE4D5 in step (b) by normalizing the level of expression of PDE4D7 in step (a) and step (b) to the level of expression of PDE4D5 and comparing the normalized expression levels; and

(d) stratifying an individual or cohort of individuals to a malignant, hormone-sensitive prostate cancer therapy based on the results obtained in step (c), where the individual's sample has an increased level of PDE4D7 expression.

7. The method of claim 2 , further including:

determining the level of prostate specific antigen (PSA).

8. The method or immunoassay of claim 7 , wherein a PSA level of 2.5 to 4 ng/ml is indicative of a malignant, hormone-sensitive prostate cancer.

9. The method of claim 2 , wherein said cutoff value is between about −1 and +1.