Genetic alterations in prostate cancer as diagnostic and prognostic markers

Abstract

Prostate cancer is the second-most frequently diagnosed cancer in men worldwide. Serum prostatespecific antigen is currently used for the early detection of prostate cancer. However, new biomarkers are needed to decrease over diagnosis and over treatment of prostate cancer due to limitations of prostate-specific antigen. Recently, molecular biomarkers have shown promising results for diagnosis and prognosis of prostate cancer. Molecular biomarkers have improved the sensitivity and specificity of prostate-specific antigen and studies are ongoing to identify molecular biomarkers as a replacement for prostate-specific antigen. This review aims to give an overview of emerging molecular biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis of prostate cancer.