Genomic testing assesses the activity of genes that control the behavior of a tumor in your body, with the goal of providing valuable information about patient risk.
The development of new and individualized ways to understand prostate cancer risk is important because we know that not all cancer is the same. Pathologic assessment of the tumor is valuable but doesn’t accurately predict the behavior of the tumor. And PSA doesn’t always allow doctors to accurately determine the extent of recurrence. As such, current clinical assessment tools may not tell the whole story.
The genomic fingerprint of metastatic prostate cancer is different from the genomic fingerprint of indolent, non-aggressive disease.
Genomic testing can help physicians and their patients make more informed decisions about management and treatment by arming them with more accurate, personalized information about the course of a patient’s disease.
Genomic tests such as Decipher® have the potential to support treatment decisions by a) identifying who can safely avoid additional treatment, and b) determining who may benefit from earlier, more aggressive therapeutic options.
