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American Morning

Scientists Discover Second Gene Connected to Prostate Cancer

Aired January 21, 2002 - 09:43   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: Scientists have identified a second gene connected to prostate cancer, according to a new study released just yesterday. The discovery could help doctors better identify and treat patients with the disease, and further study of the gene's role may offer important clues on the overall biology of prostate cancer.

With us now to explain more, CNN Medical Correspondent Elizabeth Cohen from Atlanta -- Good morning, thanks very much for being with us, Elizabeth.

ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Oh, good morning Anderson. Anderson...

COOPER: How big a deal is this?

COHEN: You know, it is a big deal in that, in the future, scientists will be able to possibly, possibly test men with a family history for prostate cancer for this gene.

Let's say someone's father, uncle, brother died of the disease, he might be able to get tested to see if he has the gene. Now, if he has the gene, that doesn't necessarily mean that he is going to get prostate cancer, it just increases odds, but it lets him know that he needs to get tested, at an earlier age.

The other reason that this is... I'm sorry, Anderson, go ahead.

COOPER: Sorry, but if someone with a family history of prostate cancer is worried that he has the bad gene, can he get tested today?

COHEN: He could not get tested today. You can't just go to your doctor and get this, I mean this just came out in a scientific journal, so that, you know, your doctor, your family doctor wouldn't have it. But you know, right now, you can get tested for so many other things that this may one of them down the road.

COOPER: All right. What are some other things you can get, or should get, genetically tested for?

COHEN: Well, you know, we went onto a web site for a genetics lab here in Atlanta, and they offered about 40 different tests for 40 different diseases. I mean, some you have heard of, like cystic fibrosis, and breast cancer, and sickle cell anemia, and some you haven't heard of like Angelman's (ph) syndrome, and McCartel (ph) disease and all sorts of things.

Different people should get tested and shouldn't get tested, but it's a question that a lot of us are going to have to start asking ourselves, as they find more genes.

For example, if someone -- if a woman has breast cancer in her family, she right now has to decide, do I want to get tested, do I want to know if I have an increased risk of getting breast cancer, do I want to make the decision whether or not I want to have my healthy breasts removed so they won't become cancerous. These are very difficult decisions.

Also, what happens if your insurance finds out that you have an increased risk of getting cancer or some terrible disease. Might they drop you? These are questions that we're all going to have to start thinking about more and more.

COOPER: All right. CNN Medical Correspondent -- thank you very much for being with us, Elizabeth, it was great to see you.

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