Cannon GW et al. (2007) A preliminary study of JM-27: a serum marker that can specifically identify men with symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia. J Urol 177: 610–614

Although benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) has sometimes been considered to be a single disease with varying symptoms, recent studies have shown differences at the gene expression level between individuals with moderate to severe BPH symptoms and those with histological disease. JM27 is an androgen-regulated gene that is highly expressed in patients with symptomatic BPH. A study conducted by Cannon et al. evaluated the role of JM27 in distinguishing patients with different forms of BPH.

In order to measure the presence of the JM-27 protein in the serum of 85 patients, a JM-27 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was developed using an anti-JM-27 monoclonal antibody. The patients were divided into three groups: patients with asymptomatic BPH (group A, n = 29); patients with symptomatic BPH (group B, n = 39); and patients with prostate cancer (group C, n = 17). The difference in serum JM-27 levels between patients from group B and patients from groups A and C was highly significant (P <0.0001). Estimates of the sensitivity and specificity of the assay for distinguishing symptomatic from asymptomatic patients were 90% and 77%, respectively. Prostate volume did not affect the outcome of the assay.

Although further research is required, this study suggests that JM-27 could represent the first serum-based marker for symptomatic BPH.