deCODE ProstateCancer™
A novel test detecting the most comprehensive set of validated genetic risk factors for prostate cancer. The test identifies 6% of men of European descent who are at more than double the average lifetime risk, 12% of African-American men who have between 1.5 fold and threefold increased risk, and 7% of East Asian men who have between two to eightfold increased risk. Test results, along with other risk factors, can help to inform and optimize screening and early detection.
Screening and prevention
How deCODE ProstateCancer™ can help.
Genetic risk and screening
The American Urology Association (AUA) recommends that men 40 and over should be offered baseline assessment for risk of prostate cancer. deCODE ProstateCancer™ is a one time test that measures genetic risk of prostate cancer and can thereby help to establish an individual’s baseline risk. This brings genetic risk into the discussion between men and their physicians regarding whether, when and how frequently to screen for prostate cancer going forward.
Informing the decision to biopsy
Having the most complete picture of individual risk is fundamental to making an informed decision whether to proceed to biopsy. deCODE ProstateCancer™ provides novel information that, together with other risk factors, clinical examination and PSA scores, contributes to a comprehensive risk profile with which to consider the options.
Assessing risk, discussing screening.
Understanding the risk of prostate cancer, including genetic risk, is the basis of an informed conversation between doctor and patient regarding the merits of screening. deCODE ProstateCancer™ is a reference laboratory test that detects 27 genetic variants associated with risk of prostate cancer in males of European descent (1-50) and which can have a significant impact on a man’s assessed lifetime risk. For African-Americans and East Asians deCODE ProstateCancer™ detects 9 and 12 genetic variants respectively (3,11,14,50-52) that associate with risk of prostate cancer.
The results are presented as a numerical risk score that is multiplied by the average risk in the population to determine the individual’s lifetime likelihood of developing prostate cancer. This information can be integrated with other risk factors, and the physician’s report is accompanied by a patient handout to facilitate discussion of the benefits and possible risks associated with different screening and early detection strategies.
Identifying men at significantly increased risk.
Approximately 6% of men of European descent taking the deCODE ProstateCancer™ test will receive a result of ≥ 2.0, indicating that they are at more than twice the average population risk (a score of 1.0) of developing prostate cancer in their lifetime. The results of the test are independent of, and therefore complement, the risk conferred by a family history of the disease. For the 5-10% of males who have at least one first degree relative with prostate cancer, a result of 2.0 from deCODE ProstateCancer™ would yield a combined risk of approximately four times the average lifetime risk in the general population.
For men of African-American ancestry, who have a 19% lifetime risk to begin with, the test identifies the 12% who have between 1.5-fold to threefold that risk, or over 56% lifetime risk if they also have a first degree relative with prostate cancer.
For men of East Asian ancestry the test identifies the 7% who have between two to eightfold the general population risk.
deCODE ProstateCancer™ analyzes genetic markers that have been associated with risk of prostate cancer in published, peer-reviewed studies involving tens of thousands of patients and control subjects from multiple populations (1-52). The risk conferred by each marker compared to that of the general population has been separately derived, replicated and validated.
deCODE ProstateCancer™ results apply to men of European, African-American, and East Asian descent. The necessary scientific information to interpret the genetic risk for individuals of other ethnicities is currently not available but will be added as soon as the data is published and verified.
This content was last reviewed on April 08, 2011.