Item of Interest: Gene Variations that Alter Key Enzyme Linked to Prostate Cancer

Recently, researchers at the National Institutes of Health reported that variations in a gene for an enzyme involved in cell energy metabolism appear to increase the risk for prostate cancer.

The genetic variations all impair the enzyme phosphodiesterase 11A (PDE11A), which helps regulate a cell's responses to hormones and other signals. Previous studies by this group have linked genetic variations that inactivate PDE11A with increased susceptibility to testicular cancer and adrenal tumors.

Read the Key Enzyme Gene Variations Linked to Prostate Cancer text alternative.

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The National Institutes of Health (NIH) The Nation's Medical Research Agency — includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services. It is the primary federal agency for conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and it investigates the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit http://www.nih.gov.