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.
Clinically relevant risk for a significant proportion of men
deCODE ProstateCancer™ returns results that range from 0.2- to 5.6-fold the general European population risk of the disease, 0.5- to 3-fold the general African-American population risk, and 0.08 to 8-fold the general East Asian population risk.
Approximately 6% of men of European descent taking the test will be at > 2.0-times average European population risk. Some 1% will be at > 3.0-times the average population risk. This is a greater impact on risk than that conferred by having a first-degree relative with the disease. Just as important, about 15% of men will see their overall risk decrease by 50% or more.
It is important to note that combinations of the 27 markers that convey extreme risks are very rare. For example, only 1:2,000 men of European ancestry taking the test will receive a result over 5.6, corresponding to a 90% lifetime risk. Because such extreme results are so rare, we believe that they should be used only with a great degree caution for modifying individual assessed risk.
Approximately 12% of African-American males will have 50% (1.5-fold) increased risk by the test and 37% will have 13 to 200% (1.3 to threefold) increased risk by the test.
For men of East Asian descent, about 7% will have between 100-700% (two-to eightfold) increase in their risk by the test.
deCODE ProstateCancer™ and family history
The risk measured by the deCODE ProstateCancer™ test is essentially independent of the risk conferred by family history of the disease. The results of the test can therefore be multiplied by family history risk to yield a combined and more complete risk assessment. Having one first-degree relative with prostate cancer double’s a man’s risk of developing it himself. As a result, for the 5-10% of males of European descent who have at least one first degree relative with prostate cancer (53), a result of 2.0 from deCODE ProstateCancer™ would yield a combined risk of approximately four times the average population risk of 16% (54). For an African-American male who has one first degree relative with prostate cancer and a risk result of 1.5, this could mount up-to 57% lifetime risk (19%) (54) general population lifetime risk x 1.5×2.0). The risk measured for an East Asian male with one first degree relative with prostate cancer and a risk result of 2.0 is similar or up to 48%.
This content was last reviewed on April 08, 2011.