The researchers said they suspect the DAB2IP gene is involved in tumor suppression and that this protective mechanism goes awry in men with the variant form of the gene.

The finding, reported in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, might one day help doctors tailor treatment based on a patient's genetic makeup, the Translational Genomics Research Institute said Wednesday in a news release.

Because there is no way to tell whether a person has, or will have, the aggressive version versus the mild version of prostate cancer, both forms are treated the same-with radiotherapy or surgery to remove the prostate gland. The identification of this genetic variant could lead to better risk assessment for aggressive disease, providing doctors with more information on how to best treat men who may be diagnosed with prostate cancer," said senior author John Carpten, director of TGen's Division of Integrated Cancer Genomics.

Wake Forest University School of Medicine, the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden, and Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions also were involved in the research.