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Biomarker Testing in Prostate Cancer
Biomarker Testing in Prostate Cancer: An Educational Program for Pathologists and Medical Oncologists

Released: April 11, 2024

Expiration: April 10, 2025

Himisha Beltran
Himisha Beltran, MD
Steven Christopher Smith
Steven Christopher Smith, MD, PhD
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Key Takeaways
  • Biomarker testing for homologous recombination repair (HRR) gene mutations is critical to guide application of PARP inhibitor–based therapy and optimize outcomes for patients with advanced prostate cancer.
  • In collaboration with the American Society for Clinical Pathology, Clinical Care Options has partnered with pathology and medical oncology experts to develop a comprehensive educational program comprising multiple learning modalities to help healthcare professionals get up to date on optimal testing for actionable HRR mutations in patients with metastatic prostate cancer and how to best to use test results to individualize therapy.

PARP inhibitor–based therapy has become the standard of care for the treatment of patients with advanced prostate cancer and a homologous recombination repair (HRR) gene mutation, most commonly mutations in BRCA2. Olaparib monotherapy is approved for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) with 14 different HRR mutations, whereas rucaparib monotherapy is approved for metastatic CRPC with BRCA1/2 alterations after prior receipt of taxane chemotherapy. PARP inhibitor combinations with AR pathway inhibitors also now are approved for use in patients with biomarker-selected metastatic CRPC. Niraparib plus abiraterone and olaparib plus abiraterone are approved for patients with for BRCA1/2 mutations, whereas talazoparib plus enzalutamide is approved across a broader range of HRR pathway gene alterations.

Because HRR alterations occur in 20% to 30% of patients with metastatic CRPC, biomarker testing for these alterations is critical to optimize outcomes for these patients. Experts and clinical guidelines recommend both germline and somatic/tumor molecular testing for ALL patients with metastatic prostate cancer.

Clinical Care Options (CCO), in collaboration with the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP), has partnered with pathology and medical oncology experts to develop a wide-ranging educational program comprising multiple learning modalities to help healthcare professionals get up to date on optimal testing for actionable HRR mutations in patients with metastatic prostate cancer and how best to use test results to individualize PARP inhibitor–based therapy.

As a healthcare professional, you can access various activities on the CCO and ASCP websites by clicking on the following links.

  • A CME-certified text module with downloadable slides capturing a comprehensive discussion between Himisha Beltran, MD, a medical oncologist, and Steven Christopher Smith, MD, PhD, a pathologist, about the biologic rationale for targeting HRR mutations in advanced prostate cancer and the latest clinical data informing best clinical practice for HRR mutation testing to guide use of PARP inhibitor–based therapy.
  • A podcast capturing a discussion between Heather H. Cheng, MD, PhD, a medical oncologist, and Colin C. Pritchard, MD, PhD, a pathologist, about testing for HRR mutations and using that information to guide treatment decisions in advanced prostate cancer.
  • A downloadable infographic PDF developed by expert pathologist Scott A. Tomlins, MD, PhD, providing a convenient clinical algorithm of germline genetic and somatic genomic testing for DNA repair mutations in advanced prostate cancer. 
  • Two short CME/CMLE-certified microlearning videos, one titled “NGS Testing for DNA Repair Gene Mutations in Prostate Cancer” with Colin C. Pritchard, MD, PhD, and the other titled “Your Role in Precision Management of Advanced Prostate Cancer: Molecular Testing and HRR-deficiency” with Steven Christopher Smith, MD, PhD.

Your Thoughts?
What challenges do you face in conducting biomarker testing and applying those results to treatment decisions in your patients with prostate cancer? Please be sure to answer our polling question and leave a comment.

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Which of the following DNA repair mutations are most relevant to your treatment decisions for your patients with metastatic prostate cancer?

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