Prostate cancer relapse can be predicted based on a refined subgroup of 100 key genes. These molecular profiles can be used for early detection of aggressive cases and to inform treatment decisions, according to a study of 482 tumor, benign, and germline samples from 259 men with primary prostate cancer. Researchers found:

• 5 separate patient subgroups were identified as having distinct genomic alterations and expression profiles based on 100 discriminating genes.

• A subset of the 100 genes outperforms established clinical predictors of poor prognosis, such as PSA or Gleason score, as well as previously published gene signatures.

• 94 genes not previously linked to prostate cancer progression were identified.

Citation: Ross-Adams H, Lamb AD, Dunning MJ, et al. Integration of copy number and transcriptomics provides risk stratification in prostate cancer: A discovery and validation cohort study. [Published online ahead of print July 29, 2015]. EBioMedicine. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ebiom.2015.07.017.