Abstract: A method of diagnosing prostate cancer in a human patient comprising the steps of obtaining a sample containing nucleic acid and/or protein from prostate cells of a patient, and determining whether the sample contains a level of Pax 2 nucleic acid or protein associated with prostate cancer. A method of treating prostate cancer comprising the step of administering to the patient an agent which selectively prevents the function of Pax 2. A genetic construct comprising a nucleic acid encoding a molecule capable of preventing the function of Pax 2 expressed in a prostate cell.