Classification of Prostate Cancer Tumor Molecular Subtype Could Inform Treatment Response

Using a proprietary Decipher Genomics Resource for Intelligent Discovery (GRID) database (Veracyte), investigators identified a particular gene expression signature that can differentiate a tumor based off its molecular subtype, aiding physicians in the development of personalized treatments for men with prostate cancer. The investigative team will present the findings at the 2023 American Society of Clinical Oncology Genitourinary (ASCO GU) Symposium in San Francisco, and will also be available online.

“These findings demonstrate that our Decipher GRID database can provide researchers with new insights that may help physicians further apply a precision medicine approach to treatment of their prostate cancer patients,” said Elai Davicioni, PhD, medical director of urology at Veracyte, in a press release.

The Decipher GRID database compiles the whole-transcriptome profiles of over 100,000 patients with urologic cancers. Physicians must order the Decipher Prostate Genomic Classifier, which is a 22-gene prognostic biomarker that scores cancer aggression before they are able to receive GRID-derived information.

Investigators looked at the efficacy of using the GRID to classify prostate cancer by its molecular subtype to inform treatment response in a study of 1015 men who had localized or metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer. The team identified a 215-gene expression signature that classified the cancer into 4 molecular subtypes, including luminal differentiated, luminal proliferating, basal immune, and basal neuroendocrine-like.

Men with luminal differentiated tumors were suggested to have the most favorable prognosis, according to the investigators’ findings using the gene expression signature. Patients with basal immune tumors had the best chances of metastasis-free survival with postoperative radiotherapy, and among patients with metastatic disease, men with luminal proliferating tumors experienced the most survival benefits when docetaxel was added to androgen deprivation therapy.

In a separate study (G-MINOR trial) investigators evaluated the clinical utility of any prostate cancer genomic classifier. It previously reported that men who received testing had a higher likelihood of choosing adjuvant radiation therapy after radical prostatectomy.

At ASCO GU, investigators will be sharing more data from the G-MINOR trial. The additional data will pertain to patient-reported quality-of-life (QoL) outcomes among patients who received genomic testing with the Decipher Prostate Genomic Classifier, according to a press release. The investigators noted that the Decipher testing did not show significant impact on QoL, particularly related to sexual or urinary function.

“These new findings suggest that there is no adverse quality-of-life impact for men whose tumors undergo Decipher Prostate testing compared to those whose do not,” Udit Singhal, MD, a urologist at University of Michigan Health, said in the press release. “This finding should give physicians even more confidence in using the Decipher Prostate test to help inform treatment decisions for their patients with prostate cancer.”

Reference

Veracyte, Inc. New Data To Be Presented at 2023 ASCO GU Suggest Decipher GRID-Derived Gene Expression Signature Can Help Personalize Prostate Cancer Treatment. Business Wire. News Release. February 13, 2023. Accessed on February 15, 2023. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230213005525/en