Methods of use of alpha-methylacyl-CoA racemase in hormone refractory and metastatic prostate cancers

A method for selecting a patient for therapy with a compound which decreases alpha-methylacyl-CoA racemase expression, the method comprising:

• (a) obtaining a test sample from the patient;
• (b) determining the expression of alpha-methylacyl-CoA racemase in the test sample;
• (c) comparing the amount of expression of alpha-methylacyl-CoA racemase in the test sample to a predetermined value;
• and
• (d) selecting the patient for therapy with a compound which decreases alpha-methylacyl-CoA racemase expression when the amount of alpha-methylacyl-CoA racemase expression in the test sample is greater than the predetermined value.

A method for identifying candidate therapeutic agents for the treatment of prostate cancer, the method comprising:

• (a) obtaining a test sample comprising prostate tumor cells;
• (b) exposing the test sample to a test compound;
• (c) measuring the level of expression of alpha-methylacyl-CoA racemase in the test sample exposed to the test compound;
• (d) determining that the test compound is a candidate therapeutic agent for the treatment of prostate cancer if the level of expression of alpha-methylacyl-CoA racemase in the test sample exposed to the test compound is less than a predetermined value.

A method for determining whether a therapeutic treatment for prostate cancer should be continued, the method comprising:

• (a) obtaining a first test sample from a prostate cancer patient at a first time;
• (b) obtaining a second test sample from the patient at a second, later time;
• (c) measuring the expression of alpha-methylacyl-CoA racemase in the first and second test samples;
• and
• (d) determining that the therapeutic treatment should be continued when the expression of alpha-methylacyl-CoA racemase in the second test sample is less than or equal to the expression of alpha-methylacyl-CoA racemase than in the first test sample.