GenomeDx Biosciences, San Diego, recently released new data supporting the clinical validation and utility of Decipher™, its genomic test that forecasts risk of metastasis in men with prostate cancer.

An analysis of men at risk of recurrence after prostate cancer surgery showed the test was a better predictor of metastasis than conventional risk assessment tools such as PSA, tumor stage, and grade, according to the company.

“More accurate prediction of metastatic prostate cancer leads to better identification of patients that need to intensify therapy, and better identification of patients that can forgo expensive procedures with harmful side effects such as impotence and incontinence,” says Doug Dolginow , MD, CEO, GenomeDx. “Decipher leapfrogs shortcomings of conventional tools by focusing on the true biological risk of lethal cancer – the genes associated with metastatic disease.

Decipher is a prognostic test that provides a direct measure of the true biological risk of potentially lethal prostate cancer independent of PSA and other risk factors. It measures the expression levels of multiple markers associated with aggressive prostate cancer and provides additional information about a patient’s risk of disease progression after surgery (radical prostatectomy). When used in conjunction with conventional risk-assessment tools, it has the potential to more accurately stratify a patient’s risk for developing recurrent or metastatic cancer following radical prostatectomy, according to the company.

“Historical data show that conventional risk assessment tools classify too many men as high risk for metastatic disease,” he adds. “These results suggest that Decipher may provide greater confidence in treatment decision-making and in doing so, holds the potential to improve patient outcomes and ultimately save health care system dollars.”

Ketan Badani, MD, urologic oncologist, Columbia University, New York, says practice patterns among urologists and the current literature vary widely on which patients are at true risk for metastasis and for whom to intensify treatment for prostate cancer. “Our study demonstrates that practicing urologists will utilize genomic-based patient-specific information and trust this data to make treatment decisions for their patients,” he says.

[Source: GenomeDx Biosciences]