New Guidelines from AUA and ASTRO Support Inclusion of Genomic Testing in Localized Prostate Cancer

By Thomas Slavin, M.D., chief medical officer, Myriad Genetics 

According to the American Cancer Society, in 2022 more than 268,000 men in the United States will be diagnosed with prostate cancer, making it the second most common cancer in men. Tragically, close to 35,000 men will die from prostate cancer in 2022. About 1 in 8 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime.  

Last week, we attended the 2022 American Urological Association (AUA) National Meeting. It was an informative three days spent exploring the latest advancements in urology and showcasing the power of genetic insights to personalize prostate cancer treatment. 

While at the meeting, AUA and American Society for Radiation Oncologists (ASTRO) shared updated guidelines that support including genomic testing in localized prostate cancer. 

For the first time, prognostic biomarker tests, such as Myriad Genetics’ Prolaris^® Prostate Cancer Test, are specifically cited in the guidelines as a potential tool that can be used to incorporate personalized genomic insights into prostate cancer care and clinical treatment decision-making. Additionally, the guidelines recommend physicians perform a risk assessment to help guide the decision to offer germline testing, including an analysis of mutations associated with aggressive prostate cancer or are known to have implications for treatment.   

The inclusion of tumor prognostic and germline testing represents another step forward to offer a clearer and more personalized treatment path for men with prostate cancer. 

Genetic insights for more actionable and personalized prostate cancer treatment 

Myriad Genetics is the only lab offering the combination of both prognostic tumor analysis and germline testing for individuals affected by prostate cancer. 

 Prolaris is a prognostic, tumor-based mRNA expression test that measures the aggressiveness of a man’s prostate cancer. It combines a genomic tumor aggressiveness score with traditional, diagnostic features like Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA), Gleason, and tumor stage, helping physicians identify which patients are safe for active surveillance, would benefit from a single mode of therapy, or require greater intensity of treatment.  Prolaris has already been broadly recommended by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) for use in low, intermediate and high-risk disease. 

Myriad offers germline testing with its MyRisk™ Hereditary Cancer Test, as well as its FDA-approved companion diagnostic test, BRACAnalysis^® CDx, which helps identify patients that are most likely to benefit from PARP-inhibitor therapy based on germline BRCA1/BRCA2 status.  

More than three million patients have been tested to date with our MyRisk, Prolaris, and companion diagnostic tests.  Prognostic tests, like Prolaris, and germline companion diagnostic tests, like BRACAnalysis CDx, can help better determine the behavior of a patient’s tumor, providing actionable data-driven information physicians need to create an individualized treatment plan.  

For more information on how Myriad Genetics continues to innovate and improve the health and well-being for men with prostate cancer. Click here: https://prolaris.com/order-a-free-physician-guide