Viral cause of Prostate-Cancer?

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XMRV is present in malignant prostatic epithelium and is associated with prostate cancer, especially

high-grade tumors.

www.pnas.org/cgi/doi/10.1073/pnas.0906922106

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                                                    The location of the Prostate gland in the human-male; google images

This rather 'surprising' paper from researchers of Columbia Univ. and Univ. of Utah, on Prostate cancer claims that the virus XMRV (Xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related virus) is associated, especially with aggressive prostate cancers and noted, rather dangerously, that "ALL individuals may be at risk" for infection.

One problem with the study though, is that it's on prostate cells and not on more 'believable' animal models.

Although it doesnt prove that prostate cancer is a viral disease, but its close association with the cancer is quite clearly shown.

Although its too early in the day, but is there a chance that prostate cancer would become a sexually transmitted diesease (like Cervical cancer probably is)?

Additionally, and importantly, can this virus be a useful and decisive marker for prostate cancer?

Only time and further studies will tell!

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