DNA methylation markers for prostate cancer with a stem cell twist.

This perspective on Ibragimova et al. (beginning on page 1084 in this issue of the journal) highlights the potential role of DNA methylation-based markers in the early detection of prostate cancer (PCa), with a focus on the global reactivation of expression of genes epigenetically silenced in PCa cell lines. Novel findings of these investigators identified four genes methylated specifically in PCa, including the stem cell marker TACSTD2, which seems to discriminate PCa (methylated TACSTD2) from prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (unmethylated). These genes add significantly to the list of epigenetic markers showing promise for clinical early detection of PCa in the near future. Copyright 2010 AACR.