1. ¹Department of Radiation Sciences, Oncology, Umeå University, Umea, Sweden
2. ²Neuro-oncology Research Group, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Department of Neurosurgery, VU Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
3. ³Departments of Neurology and Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Neuroscience Program, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
4. ⁴Department of Clinical Immunology, Umeå University, Umea, Sweden

Correspondence: Dr J Nilsson, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, Department of Neurosurgery, Neuro-oncology Research Group, Cancer Center Amsterdam, room 3. 60, De Boelelaan 1117, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands. E-mail: j.nilsson@vumc.nl

Received 7 October 2008; Revised 4 March 2009; Accepted 30 March 2009; Published online 28 April 2009.

Abstract

Herein, we describe a novel approach in the search for prostate cancer biomarkers, which relies on the transcriptome within tumour exosomes. As a proof-of-concept, we show the presence of two known prostate cancer biomarkers, PCA-3 and TMPRSS2:ERG the in exosomes isolated from urine of patients, showing the potential for diagnosis and monitoring cancer patients status.