Two subsets of genes including several inflammatory mediators (for example, lymphotoxin beta, immunoglobulins, and chemokine receptors), cytokines, and extracellular matrix-associated molecules (for example, RANTES, osteonectin, lumican) appear to distinguish symptomatic BPH and BPH with cancer as a separate group distinct from the normal or asymptomatic BPH groups. The gene discussed is SPARC; the disease is benign prostatic hyperplasia.