Prostate and breast cancer have strong but heterogenic genetic background. We characterize germline genetic biomarkers that associate especially with aggressive disease.

Studies contrasting patients with more and less aggressive disease, and exploring association with disease progression and prognosis, are most effective in detecting genetic risk factors for cancer outcome. Germline mutations can act as trigger events that then drive cancers with distinct evolutionary pathways. Therefore, identifying the genes and mutations involved, understanding these events and explaining the mechanistic role of predisposing gene variants, is of outmost importance. Biomarkers can help early diagnosis, prognosis and decision-making processes, for example in forming an important additional factor in supporting a treatment strategy decision. The research group is led by professor, head geneticist Johanna Schleutker.

Read more: https://sites.utu.fi/genetic-cancer-predisposition/en/

https://www.utu.fi/en/university/faculty-of-medicine/institute-of-biomedicine/research/cancer-research