Get notified of page updates

Prostate Cancer: Biomarker Testing

Biomarker and genetic testing can help guide prostate cancer treatment. Learn about how these tests may impact treatment options.

Stay up to date on research and information

Sign Up for FORCE Newsletters

Risk Management & Treatment > Cancer Treatment > By Cancer Type > Prostate > Genetic Testing and Biomarker Testing

Glossary on
off

Testing for People with Cancer

What is cancer testing?

tests look at samples of blood, tumor or other tissue for changes or abnormalities 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

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. 


Tests to measure prognosis for low-risk- or favorable-intermediate-risk cancer

Tumor testing can help predict how likely it is that low-risk or favorable-intermediate risk cancer will grow or spread. For people with cancer and a life expectancy of 10 years or more, these tests can help guide the approach to treatment. They include:

  • Decipher
  • Oncotype DX
  • Prolaris
  • ProMark

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. 

The tests below are most often used in treatment selection for prostate cancer. Additional tumor  testing may help people learn if they are eligible for certain clinical trials. 

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 NBN

Other biomarkers for targeted therapies

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.  
  • tumors may respond to treatment with Enhertu (trastuzumab deruxtecan). 
  • Tumors that test positive for a RET gene fusion may respond to the drug Retevmo (selpercatinib). 
  •  known as an NTRK fusion can  predict who might benefit from the  Vitrakvi (larotrectinib).

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. 

Genetic testing for inherited mutations to guide treatment selection

People diagnosed with prostate cancer should be offered genetic testing for an . Genetic test results  may be used to guide treatment selection.  

  • People with advanced  cancer who test positive for an inherited or mutation may benefit from treatment with a type of known as a .
  • People who test positive for other inherited gene mutations may qualify for clinical trials looking at targeted therapies to treat hereditary ovarian cancer. 
  • People who test positive for a gene mutation may benefit from treatment with an agent.

Genetic testing offers additional benefits for people with cancer. You can read more about genetic testing for cancer here.  

Participate in Research


In the News

Genes linked to aggressive prostate cancer

Study : Genes linked to aggressive prostate cancer

Previous research has linked some inherited mutations to prostate cancer risk. This study found a link to additional genes that should be added to prostate...

Genetic testing among people with cancer can find mutations that may affect treatment and prevention

Study : Genetic testing among people with cancer can find mutations that may affect treatment and prevention

Despite national guidelines recommending genetic testing, less than 10 percent of eligible patients had genetic testing within two years after their cancer diagnosis. Among those...

Last updated August 17, 2023