Biomarkers are changing how prostate cancer is managed
Research on biomarkers in prostate cancer is ongoing. Biomarkers such as gene mutations in prostate cancer cells are helping scientists better understand:
- How prostate cancer develops
- Which prostate cancers are most likely to grow and spread
- How prostate cancer can be treated in targeted ways
- Whether gene mutations are inherited and if genetic testing is a good idea for family members too
What are prostate cancer biomarkers?
Doctors often test for many prostate cancer biomarkers
Key biomarkers and their prevalence in prostate cancer (PC)
1% in localized PC
25% in localized PC
Tumor suppressor genes
- Includes PTEN, RB1, and TP53
HRR (homologous recombination repair) genes
- Also called DNA repair genes
- Includes BRCA1, BRCA2, ATM, ATR, BARD1, BRIP1, CDK12, CHEK1, CHEK2, FANCA,
FANCL, MLH1, MRE11A, NBN, PALB2, RAD51B, RAD51C, RAD51D, and RAD54L
MMR (mismatch repair) genes
- Includes MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, PMS2, EPCAM, and POLE
CRPC, castration-resistant prostate cancer.
mCRPC, metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer.
mPC, metastatic prostate cancer.
Getting targeted therapy for advanced prostate cancer often depends on biomarkers
Biomarker testing helps guide the choice of treatment for prostate cancer. Biomarker tests are also called genomic, molecular, or proteomic tests.
Some medicines, such as certain targeted drugs, are only likely to be helpful if the patient’s cancer cells have one or more gene changes or other biomarkers.
How is a biomarker testing done?
The gold standard for biomarker testing is molecular analysis of cancer cells from a tumor tissue sample. Small cores of tissue are removed from the prostate with a needle.
But taking a sample of tumor tissue from the prostate is not easily repeated. And some patients may refuse it due to side effects. That’s where “liquid biopsies” can help.
Liquid biopsies are another way to test for biomarkers
This approach relies on analyzing bits of tumor material found in bodily fluids such as blood, urine, cerebrospinal fluid, or saliva. For prostate cancer, liquid biopsies require blood or urine samples.
Liquid biopsies have some advantages for patients with prostate cancer. They are usually less invasive and more easily repeated than taking a tissue sample from the prostate with a needle.
Learn more about prostate cancer biomarkers
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