Gene linked to aggressive type of cancer

London: A key prostate cancer gene has been identified by researchers, raising hopes of a blood test that could save thousands of men from painful and unnecessary treatments.

Men who have the flawed DNA are 25 per cent more likely than others to develop the most dangerous form of the cancer. The finding could help pave the way for a blood test to help distinguish with greater accuracy the more common, slower-growing forms of the disease from the more aggressive, faster-growing varieties.

Such a test is described as the "holy grail" of prostate cancer research.

This is because doctors use a variety of techniques to determine those patients most at risk. But the results are not wholly reliable — meaning many undergo unnecessary surgery and radiotherapy.