According to a study published in the journal Lancet Oncology on Wednesday, men with prostate cancer may be able to avoid unnecessary and life-changing surgery in the future, thanks to a genetic pattern that can apparently foretell how aggressive prostate cancer is.

With prostate cancers ranging from slow-growing tumors to aggressive ones, researchers at Queen Mary, University of London, have found that the aggressiveness of prostrate cancer is related to the high levels of certain genes.

The study, which looked at 703 men with prostate cancer, found that men who have the highest levels of cell cycle progression (CCP) genes - that is, genes which encourage the growth of cells - more often then not have the worst type of prostrate cancer.

It was also observed that among the patients who had already had surgery to have their prostate removed, men who had the highest CCP levels had a 70 percent more chance of a recurrence of the disease.

Researchers, who took tissue samples from the patients to test for levels of the 31 genes involved in CCP, also found that specific combination of these gene levels can help identify whether the risk of the disease spreading beyond the prostate is high or low.

Noting that the "important" research will help solve "one of the biggest problems in prostate cancer treatment," Dr Lesley Walker, director of cancer information at Cancer Research UK, said: "For some men, detecting prostate cancer early could be lifesaving. For others, it could mean unnecessary treatment and serious side effects."