Genetic Testing and Biomarker Testing
Read about cancer treatment options listed by gene mutation, type of cancer and type of treatment.Stay up to date on research and information
Sign Up for FORCE NewslettersGenetic Testing and Testing for Cancer
This section covers the following topics:
Genetic testing for inherited mutations
About 10 percent of cancers are caused by an . Genetic testing can help people with cancer and their relatives learn more about their cancer risks and medical options.
Who should get genetic testing?
Genetic testing for hereditary cancer is recommended in the following situations:
- cancers that are in the high-risk or very-high-risk group
- prostate cancer
- cancer in people with a personal or family history of other cancers
See our section on genetic testing for a more complete list.
Genetic testing for treatment selection
Certain types of cancer treatment work best in people who test positive for an .
- Men with mCRPC who test positive for an in , , , , or other gene linked to a certain type of damage repair may benefit from a type of known as a .
- Men with whose cancer got worse on standard therapy may benefit from treatment with the drug Keytruda (pembrolizumab).
(tumor) testing
tests look at samples of blood, tumor or other tissue for changes caused by cancer. These tests can give doctors clues about the cancer, including:
- how fast the cancer is growing
- which treatments are most likely to work
- whether or not the cancer is responding to treatment or growing
- whether or not the cancer has come back after remission
Biomarkers for treatment selection
tests may be used to select treatments, and help patients avoid side effects from treatments that will not work for them. tests used to select a treatment are sometimes called "companion diagnostic tests." See our Testing section for more information.
testing for low-risk- or favorable-intermediate-risk cancer
For men with a low-risk or favorable-intermediate risk cancer and a life expectancy of > 10 years, multi-gene tumor testing can help predict how aggressive the cancer is and guide treatment decisions. multi-gene tumor tests include:
- Decipher
- Oncotype DX
- Prolaris
- ProMark
Biomarkers for or for metastic cancer
Tests can predict which cancers are likely to respond to treatment with a known or .
Biomarkers for selection
PARP inhibitors are a type of that work best for treating cancers with certain abnormalities. Several different PARP inhibitors have been approved for treating metasatic cancer.
- People with tumor mutations in these genes may benefit from treatment with a PARP inhibitor:
- , ,BRCA1, , , CDK12, , FANCA, FANCL, , , RAD51B, , , MRE11A or
Biomarkers for selection
- An abnormality known as “" (MSI-H or ) also known as "" ( or ).
- cancers are common in people with a gene mutations. People with advanced/metastatic cancer may respond well to an agent.
Other biomarkers
Additional tests that may be used for metastic (mCRPC) include:
- AR-V7 testing is a blood test that looks for a form of the androgen receptor that makes androgen therapy less effective. AR-V7 testing can help identify patients who would not benefit from androgen receptor therapies.
- An imaging test uses a to find tumors with the PSMA. Tumors with PSMA are more likely to respond to the treatment Pluvicto.
The following organizations offer peer support services for people with or at high risk for cancer:
- FORCE peer support
- Visit our message boards.
- Once you register, you can post on the Diagnosed With Cancer board to connect with other people who have been diagnosed.
- Sign up for our Peer Navigation Program.
- Users are matched with a volunteer who shares their mutation and situation.
- Join our private Facebook group.
- Find a virtual or in-person support meeting.
- Join a Zoom community group meeting.
- Visit our message boards.
- ZERO-The End of Cancer is a nonprofit organization that provides information and support resources for men with cancer.
The following studies are looking at PARP inhibitors and similar agents for treating people with advanced cancer.
- NCT04592237: Chemotherapy, and for the Treatment of Aggressive Variant Cancer. This study will look at how well the combination of chemotherapy drugs (such as cabazitaxel and carboplatin), a PARP inhibitors (), and an agents (cetrelimab) works for treating people with a rare type of cancer known as aggressive variant cancer (AVPC).
- NCT05005728: XmAb®20717 Alone or in Combination With Chemotherapy or in Patients With Castration-Resistant Cancer. This study will look at the safety and clinical activity of the drug XmAb20717 alone or in combination with standard-of-care anticancer therapies in patients with castration-resistant cancer who have been treated with at least 2 prior lines of treatment.
- NCT03317392: Studying the Medication Given with Radium-223 for Advanced Cancer with Bone . This study is measuring the best dosage for and side effects of the drug combination and radium-223 to treat men with mCRPC that has spread to the bones.
Other clinical trials for people with cancer can be found here.