Why should people with prostate cancer get genetic testing?

Prostate cancer survivors and those in treatment should speak with a genetics expert to decide if genetic testing is right for them. About 10% of people diagnosed with prostate cancer have an inherited mutation that caused their cancer. Genetic test results may affect your prostate cancer treatment and prognosis. In addition to increasing lifetime risk for prostate cancer, BRCA1, BRCA2 (and possibly other genes) have been linked to more aggressive, metastatic disease. People with mCRPC who test positive for an inherited mutation may benefit from targeted or immunotherapy to treat their cancer. Genetic test results may help you and your relatives understand the risk for cancer and take action to stay healthy. If you test positive for an inherited mutation, you may have an increased risk for other cancers. Expert guidelines outline cancer screening and prevention options for people at high risk for cancer due to an inherited mutation.

Who should have genetic testing for hereditary prostate cancer?

Experts recommend genetic counseling and testing if you have prostate cancer and any of the following applies to you: you had tumor testing which found a mutation that may be an inherited mutation (for example, if your tumor test found a BRCA1, BRCA2 or ATM mutation in your cancer). you were diagnosed with metastic prostate cancer at any age. your prostate cancer is considered very-high or high-risk based on pathology. you also have been diagnosed with breast cancer. You are Eastern European Jewish or have Jewish ancestry. Experts also recommend genetic counseling and testing if you have prostate cancer and any of the following: you have a blood relative who tested positive for an inherited mutation in a gene linked to prostate cancer. any 1st-, 2nd-, or 3rd-degree relative on the same side of the family who has been diagnosed with: breast, colorectal or endometrial cancer at age 50 or younger. triple-negative breast, ovarian, pancreatic, male breast cancer, or metastatic prostate cancer at any age. three or more close blood relatives on the same side of the family (including the patient with prostate cancer) who have been diagnosed with: breast cancer or prostate cancer. cancers associated with Lynch syndrome, including: colorectal, endometrial, gastric, melanoma, urothelial, glioblastoma, biliary tract, or small intestinal cancers. You may also consider genetic counseling and testing if: you were diagnosed with prostate cancer at age 55 or younger, or you were diagnosed with intermediate-risk prostate cancer with a finding known as intraductal/cribriform histology If you had genetic testing in the past and tested negative, you may benefit from additional testing: if you had a test that only looked for one or a few genes, or if you had genetic testing before 2014. Genetic testing has improved, and laboratories can now find gene mutations that may have previously been missed.

Should relatives of people with prostate cancer get genetic testing?

Genetic counseling and testing is also recommended for anyone with one or more 1st- or 2nd-degree relatives with prostate cancer and any of the following: metastatic or high-grade prostate cancer. very-high or high-risk prostate cancer based on pathology. also diagnosed with breast cancer. Eastern European Jewish or have Jewish ancestry.

Are prostate cancers in people with gene mutations different?

Some inherited mutations increase the risk for prostate cancer at a younger age. BRCA2 mutations have been linked to a more aggressive form of prostate cancer. More research is needed to learn if mutations in other genes are more likely to cause aggressive cancers.

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Genetic Testing for Prostate Cancer

Q: What are the benefits of genetic testing for prostate cancer genes?

Up to 10% of people diagnosed with prostate cancer have an inherited mutation that caused their cancer. For people with prostate cancer, genetic test results may affect your cancer treatment options, including allowing you access to newer therapies or to avoid therapies that are less likely to help you. Genetic test results may help you and your relatives understand the risk for cancer and take action to stay healthy. If you test positive for an inherited mutation, you may have an increased risk for other cancers. Your test may allow relatives to learn if they are at increased or average risk for cancer. Expert guidelines outline cancer screening and prevention options for people who test positive for a mutation linked to prostate cancer risk.

Q: Should everyone with prostate cancer get genetic testing?

No. Some people with prostate cancer may not benefit from genetic testing. People with prostate cancer should speak with a genetics expert to decide if genetic testing is right for them. There are expert guidelines that outline who is most likely to benefit from genetic testing.

Learn about genetic testing and the genes associated with hereditary prostate cancer.

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What are the benefits of genetic testing for cancer genes?

Up to 10% of people diagnosed with cancer have an that caused their cancer.

For people with cancer, genetic test results may affect your cancer treatment options, including allowing you access to newer therapies or to avoid therapies that are less likely to help you.
Genetic test results may help you and your relatives understand the risk for cancer and take action to stay healthy.
If you test positive for an , you may have an increased risk for other cancers.
Your test may allow relatives to learn if they are at increased or average risk for cancer.
Expert guidelines outline cancer screening and prevention options for people who test positive for a mutation linked to cancer risk.

Genetic testing in people with prostate cancer

Genetic testing guidelines for people with prostate cancer

Guidelines for testing relatives of people with prostate cancer

Genes linked to hereditary prostate cancer

Why should people with cancer get genetic testing?

cancer survivors and those in treatment should speak with a genetics expert to decide if genetic testing is right for them. About 10% of people diagnosed with cancer have an that caused their cancer.

Genetic test results may affect your cancer treatment and prognosis.

In addition to increasing lifetime risk for cancer, , (and possibly other genes) have been linked to more aggressive, disease.
People with mCRPC who test positive for an may benefit from targeted or to treat their cancer.

Genetic test results may help you and your relatives understand the risk for cancer and take action to stay healthy.

If you test positive for an , you may have an increased risk for other cancers.
Expert guidelines outline cancer screening and prevention options for people at high risk for cancer due to an .

Should everyone with cancer get genetic testing?

No. Some people with cancer may not benefit from genetic testing. People with cancer should speak with a genetics expert to decide if genetic testing is right for them. There are expert guidelines that outline who is most likely to benefit from genetic testing.

Who should have genetic testing for hereditary cancer?

Experts recommend genetic counseling and testing if you have cancer and any of the following applies to you:

you had tumor testing which found a mutation that may be an (for example, if your tumor test found a , or mutation in your cancer).
you were diagnosed with metastic cancer at any age.
your cancer is considered very-high or high-risk based on pathology.
you also have been diagnosed with breast cancer.
You are Eastern European Jewish or have Jewish ancestry.

Experts also recommend genetic counseling and testing if you have cancer and any of the following:

you have a blood relative who tested positive for an in a gene linked to cancer.
any 1st-, 2nd-, or 3rd-degree relative on the same side of the family who has been diagnosed with:
- breast, colorectal or endometrial cancer at age 50 or younger.
- triple-negative breast, ovarian, pancreatic, male breast cancer, or prostate cancer at any age.
three or more close blood relatives on the same side of the family (including the patient with cancer) who have been diagnosed with:
- breast cancer or cancer.
- cancers associated with , including: colorectal, endometrial, gastric, melanoma, urothelial, glioblastoma, biliary tract, or small intestinal cancers.

You may also consider genetic counseling and testing if:

you were diagnosed with cancer at age 55 or younger, or
you were diagnosed with intermediate-risk cancer with a finding known as intraductal/cribriform histology

If you had genetic testing in the past and tested negative, you may benefit from additional testing:

if you had a test that only looked for one or a few genes, or
if you had genetic testing before 2014. Genetic testing has improved, and laboratories can now find gene mutations that may have previously been missed.

Should relatives of people with cancer get genetic testing?

Genetic counseling and testing is also recommended for anyone with one or more 1st- or 2nd-degree relatives with cancer and any of the following:

or high-grade cancer.
very-high or high-risk cancer based on pathology.
also diagnosed with breast cancer.
Eastern European Jewish or have Jewish ancestry.

Which genes are linked to hereditary cancer?

Mutations in the following genes increase the risk for hereditary cancer.

Genes Linked to Cancer

, , , , , , , , , *, *,

*More research is needed to confirm a link between an in this gene and increased risk for cancer.

Are cancers in people with gene mutations different?

Some inherited mutations increase the risk for cancer at a younger age. mutations have been linked to a more aggressive form of cancer. More research is needed to learn if mutations in other genes are more likely to cause aggressive cancers.

How do I get genetic testing for hereditary cancer?

Genetic testing is a type of blood or saliva test performed on blood, saliva or tissue. The sample is collected and sent to a genetic testing lab. A doctor or nurse with expertise in genetics or a genetic counselor can help you get genetic testing. You can read more about the process here.