Prostate Cancer: Biomarker Testing
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This section covers the following topics:
What is cancer testing?
tests look at samples of blood, tumor or other tissue for changes or abnormalities caused by cancer. These tests can give doctors clues about the cancer, including:
- how fast the cancer is growing
- which treatments are most likely to work
- whether or not the cancer is responding to treatment or growing
- whether or not the cancer has come back after remission
tests may be used to select treatments, and help patients avoid side effects from treatments that will not work for them. tests used to select a treatment are sometimes called "companion diagnostic tests." See our Testing section for more information.
Tests to measure prognosis for low-risk- or favorable-intermediate-risk cancer
Tumor testing can help predict how likely it is that low-risk or favorable-intermediate risk cancer will grow or spread. For people with cancer and a life expectancy of 10 years or more, these tests can help guide the approach to treatment. They include:
- Decipher
- Oncotype DX
- Prolaris
- ProMark
Biomarkers for treatment selection
tests may be used to select treatments, and help patients avoid side effects from treatments that will not work for them. tests used to select a treatment are sometimes called "companion diagnostic tests." See our Testing section for more information.
The tests below are most often used in treatment selection for prostate cancer. Additional tumor testing may help people learn if they are eligible for certain clinical trials.
Biomarkers for selection
PARP inhibitors are a type of that work best for treating cancers with certain abnormalities. Several different PARP inhibitors have been approved for treating metasatic cancer.
- People with tumor mutations in these genes may benefit from treatment with a PARP inhibitor:
- , ,BRCA1, , , CDK12, , FANCA, FANCL, , , RAD51B, , , MRE11A or
Other biomarkers for targeted therapies
Additional tests that may be used for metastic (mCRPC) include:
- AR-V7 testing is a blood test that looks for a form of the androgen receptor that makes androgen therapy less effective. AR-V7 testing can help identify patients who would not benefit from androgen receptor therapies.
- An imaging test uses a to find tumors with the PSMA. Tumors with PSMA are more likely to respond to the treatment Pluvicto.
- tumors may respond to treatment with Enhertu (trastuzumab deruxtecan).
- Tumors that test positive for a RET gene fusion may respond to the drug Retevmo (selpercatinib).
- A known as an NTRK fusion can predict who might benefit from the Vitrakvi (larotrectinib).
Biomarkers for selection
- An abnormality known as “" (MSI-H or ) also known as "" ( or ).
- cancers are common in people with a gene mutations. People with advanced/metastatic cancer may respond well to an agent.
Genetic testing for inherited mutations to guide treatment selection
People diagnosed with prostate cancer should be offered genetic testing for an . Genetic test results may be used to guide treatment selection.
- People with advanced cancer who test positive for an inherited or mutation may benefit from treatment with a type of known as a .
- People who test positive for other inherited gene mutations may qualify for clinical trials looking at targeted therapies to treat hereditary ovarian cancer.
- People who test positive for a gene mutation may benefit from treatment with an agent.
Genetic testing offers additional benefits for people with cancer. You can read more about genetic testing for cancer here.
Participate in Research
NePtune: Using PARP Inhibitors Before Surgery in Localized Prostate Cancer
Clinicaltrials.gov identifier:
NCT05498272
Study of a New InvestigationaI Inhibitor to Treat People with Advanced Solid Tumors
Clinicaltrials.gov identifier:
NCT05932862
In the News
Study : Genes linked to aggressive prostate cancer
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Despite national guidelines recommending genetic testing, less than 10 percent of eligible patients had genetic testing within two years after their cancer diagnosis. Among those...