Lipid, protein, and metabolite markers for the diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer

A method for diagnosing the presence of ERG-positive prostate cancer in a subject, comprising:

• (a) detecting the level of an ERG-positive prostate cancer marker in a biological sample from the subject, wherein the ERG-positive prostate cancer marker comprises one or more markers selected from Tables 6, 30 and 31;
• and
• (b) comparing the level of the ERG-positive prostate cancer marker in the biological sample with a predetermined threshold value;
• wherein the level of the ERG-positive prostate cancer marker above or below the predetermined threshold value indicates a diagnosis that ERG-positive prostate cancer is present in the subject.

A method for diagnosing the presence of prostate cancer in a subject with a BMI index equal or greater than 30, comprising:

• (a) detecting the level of a high BMI prostate cancer marker in a biological sample from the subject, wherein the high BMI prostate cancer marker comprises one or more markers selected from Tables 7, 18 and 25;
• and
• (b) comparing the level of the high BMI prostate cancer marker in the biological sample with a predetermined threshold value;
• wherein the level of the high BMI prostate cancer marker above or below the predetermined threshold value indicates a diagnosis that prostate cancer is present in the subject.

A method for diagnosing the presence of ERG-negative prostate cancer in a Caucasian subject with a BMI index equal or greater than 30, comprising:

• (a) detecting the level of mercapto-succinyl-carnitine in a biological sample from the subject;
• and
• (b) comparing the level of mercapto-succinyl-carnitine in the biological sample with a predetermined threshold value;
• wherein the level of mercapto-succinyl-carnitine above the predetermined threshold value indicates a diagnosis that ERG-negative prostate cancer is present in the subject.

A method for identifying a subject as being at an increased risk for developing prostate cancer, comprising:

• (a) detecting the level of a prostate cancer marker in a biological sample from the subject, wherein the prostate cancer comprises one or more markers selected from Tables 1-31;
• and
• (b) comparing the level of the prostate cancer marker in the biological sample with a predetermined threshold value;
• wherein the level of the prostate cancer marker above or below the predetermined threshold value indicates that the subject is being at an increased risk for developing prostate cancer.

A method for identifying a subject as being at an increased risk for developing ERG-positive prostate cancer in a subject, comprising:

• (a) detecting the level of an ERG-positive prostate cancer marker selected from Tables 6, 30 and 31;
• and
• (b) comparing the level of the ERG-positive prostate cancer marker in the biological sample with a predetermined threshold value;
• wherein the level of the ERG-positive prostate cancer marker above or below the predetermined threshold value indicates that the subject is being at an increased risk for developing ERG-positive prostate cancer.

A method for identifying a subject with a BMI index equal or greater than 30 as being at an increased risk for developing prostate cancer, comprising:

• (a) detecting the level of a high BMI prostate cancer marker selected from Tables 7, 18 and 25;
• and
• (b) comparing the level of the high BMI prostate cancer marker in the biological sample with a predetermined threshold value;
• wherein the level of the high BMI prostate cancer marker above or below the predetermined threshold value indicates that the subject is being at an increased risk for developing prostate cancer.

A method for identifying a Caucasian subject with a BMI index equal or greater than 30 as being at an increased risk for developing ERG-negative prostate cancer, comprising:

• (a) detecting the level of mercapto-succinyl-carnitine in the biological sample from the subject;
• and
• (b) comparing the level of mercapto-succinyl-carnitine in the biological sample with a predetermined threshold value;
• wherein the level of mercapto-succinyl-carnitine above the predetermined threshold value indicates that the subject is being at an increased risk for developing ERG-negative prostate cancer.

A method for monitoring prostate cancer in a subject, the method comprising:

• (1) detecting the level of a prostate cancer marker in a first biological sample obtained at a first time from the subject having prostate cancer, wherein the prostate cancer marker comprises one or more markers selected from Tables 1-31;
• (2) detecting the level of the prostate cancer marker in a second biological sample obtained from the subject at a second time, wherein the second time is later than the first time;
• and
• (3) comparing the level of the prostate cancer marker in the second sample with the level of the prostate cancer marker in the first sample;
• wherein a change in the level of the prostate cancer marker is indicative of a change in prostate cancer status in the subject.

A method for monitoring ERG-positive prostate cancer in a subject, the method comprising:

• (1) detecting the level of an ERG-positive prostate cancer marker in a first biological sample obtained at a first time from the subject having ERG-positive prostate cancer, wherein the ERG-positive prostate cancer marker comprises one or more markers selected from Tables 6, 30 and 31;
• (2) detecting the level of the ERG-positive prostate cancer marker in a second biological sample obtained from the subject at a second time, wherein the second time is later than the first time;
• and
• (3) comparing the level of the ERG-positive prostate cancer marker in the second sample with the level of the ERG-positive prostate cancer marker in the first sample;
• wherein a change in the level of the ERG-positive prostate cancer marker is indicative of a change in ERG-positive prostate cancer status in the subject.

A method for monitoring prostate cancer in a subject with a BMI index equal or greater than 30, the method comprising:

• (1) detecting the level of a high BMI prostate cancer marker in a first biological sample obtained at a first time from the subject having prostate cancer, wherein the high BMI prostate cancer marker comprises one or more markers selected from Tables 7, 18 and 25;
• (2) detecting the level of the high BMI prostate cancer marker in a second biological sample obtained from the subject at a second time, wherein the second time is later than the first time;
• and
• (3) comparing the level of the high BMI prostate cancer marker in the second sample with the level of the high BMI prostate cancer marker in the first sample;
• wherein a change in the level of the high BMI prostate cancer marker is indicative of a change in prostate cancer status in the subject.

A method for monitoring ERG-negative prostate cancer in a subject a Caucasian subject with a BMI index equal or greater than 30, the method comprising:

• (1) detecting the level of mercapto-succinyl-carnitine in a first biological sample obtained at a first time from a subject having ERG-negative prostate cancer;
• (2) detecting the level of mercapto-succinyl-carnitine in a second biological sample obtained from the subject at a second time, wherein the second time is later than the first time;
• and
• (3) comparing the level of mercapto-succinyl-carnitine in the second sample with the level of the at least one marker in the first sample;
• wherein a change in the level of mercapto-succinyl-carnitine is indicative of a change in prostate cancer status in the subject.