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not tell which tumors are slow growing and what not," he adds. "But with this research we have identified a potential marker to identify aggressive tumors." Emergency Some prostate cancers grow slowly, but others require immediate treatment for their aggressiveness. One of the biggest challenges we face with prostate cancer is to determine if the disease is aggressive Dr. Arul Chinnaiyan So far, however, it is very difficult to distinguish and some patients undergo surgery or radiation treatments that are not needed. But the scientists discovered metabolites of Michigan are produced by the body when there is the aggressive form of the disease. In theory, scientists say, to detect its presence in urine could enable doctors to determine if a tumor is aggressive and if you require urgent treatment. In the 1126 study, researchers analyzed 262 metabolites in tissue samples, blood and urine associated with benign prostate tissue, prostate cancer and early-stage prostate cancer, advanced, or metastatic. Scientists have identified about 10 metabolites, they say, were present more frequently in prostate cancer than in benign cells. And his presence was even more marked in samples from advanced cancer. "The analysis of metabolites," said Dr. Chinnaiyan, allows us to look closely at some of the functions of cells and the biochemistry that occurs during the development of cancer. " Researchers found a particular metabolite, called sarcosine, which seems to be one of the strongest indicators of advanced disease. Sarcosine levels were elevated in 79% of the samples of metastatic prostate cancer and in 42% of the samples of cancer in early stages. And in samples of cancer cells without sarcosine was not found. Potential treatment The study identified compounds that are present in cancerous tumors. In fact, scientists say, sarcosine turned out to be a better indicator of advanced disease than PSA (prostate specific antigen) that is currently used to monitor or diagnose the disease. And as sarcosine can be detected in urine, the researchers say it could be used to diagnose a simple urine test. Research also found that sarcosine is involved in the process of cancer spread, suggesting that the compound is a potential target for the development of future treatments. The researchers stress, however, that this is a preliminary study and further research is still lacking to achieve development of the test. Either way, experts say, the results are very encouraging. Because maybe in the future may have a valuable tool for the diagnosis of prostate cancer. "It is too early to say whether this study is a" dead end "or a breakthrough," said John Neate, of the aid organization The Prostate Cancer. "But so far the results are sufficiently promising to continue research that could lead to development of a new test for prostate cancer," he adds.