A gene has been noticed by scientists from Edinburgh University that can make diagnosing prostate cancer easier and treating it easily as well.

The gene that was identified was Decorin and this controls the formation of the prostate gland.

As compared to normal prostate cells, the mere presence of this gene was reduced in tumours.

When it comes to prostate cancer, Decorin levels can prove to be a useful tool in diagnosing prostate cancer, according to the researchers.

The study was conducted by scientists from the Centre for Reproductive Health and the funds came from Prostate Cancer UK and the Medical Research Council (MRC).

Decorin levels can be functional in figuring out the growth of tumour, they believe.

Lead researcher, Dr Axel Thomson, said, “We pinpointed which genes were active in embryonic prostate development and compared their behaviour in the development of prostate cancer. Through this process we were excited to discover that the presence of one gene - Decorin - was reduced in tumours compared to normal prostate cells.”

There are exciting possibilities when it comes to slowing down the growth of cancer, it was added.