Researchers at University College London have analyzed a tissue-based molecular test called Decipher to determine which men with high-risk prostate cancer are most likely to benefit from aggressive treatment and which may avoid unnecessary medication and side effects.
The study, which was presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology Congress in Madrid, focused on abiraterone, a hormone therapy that has been shown to cut the risk of death in half among men with high-risk, localized prostate cancer. The researchers examined test scores from over 27,000 patients in real-world data and 401 men who had participated in a clinical trial of abiraterone.
The analysis found that higher Decipher scores predicted worse outcomes, indicating that the cancer is more likely to spread and additional treatment may be beneficial. Conversely, a low Decipher score suggested that more intensive treatment may be unnecessary. The findings suggest that genomic testing could help tailor treatment, allowing doctors to identify which men are most likely to benefit from additional therapy.
Lead researcher Dr. Sarah Howlett noted that for men with very high-risk prostate cancer, preventing the spread of the disease is critical. She emphasized the importance of understanding who benefits most from additional treatment, which can make a meaningful difference in patient outcomes.
While the study's findings are promising, Dr. Howlett cautioned that further validation in other datasets is needed before the test is used routinely to make treatment decisions.
NTC Report coverage is based on reporting from the original publisher.
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