Prostate cancer is the most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death in American men. Among several treatment options, the primary treatment option for initial therapy for localized prostate cancer is radical prostatectomy. Among prostate cancer patients who had a radical prostatectomy, approximately 30% will have recurrence. Currently, the level of prostate specific antigen (PSA), cancer stage (TNM system) and the grade of tumor (Gleason score) are used to estimate prognosis and inform treatment modalities. Although these measurements are extremely useful, additional biomarkers are needed to better predict the outcome of prostate cancer. Angiogenesis, the development of new blood vessels, has been shown to be associated with Gleason score, tumor stage, progression, metastasis and survival in prostate cancer patients. Dr. Park and his laboratory team are interested in genetic and epigenetic variations in the angiogenesis-related genes associated with prostate cancer recurrence.