/> Scientists at Edinburgh University have identified a gene that could slow down the growth of prostate cancer.

Doctors believe the discovery of  decorin could help them treat the disease and improve diagnosis.

An estimated 500 men die from the disease in Ireland every year.

Dr Axel Thomson, from the University of Edinburgh, hopes their research will help develop more precise treatments in future.

“By doing basic research, we can uncover some of the genes key in regulating prostate growth and those may turn out to become better diagnostic tests to tell people if they have prostate cancer – and if so – what sort of treatment they require”.