A new DNA test could help doctors determine which men with prostate cancer need more aggressive treatment and which may be spared additional therapy, offering fresh hope of reducing the treatment burden on patients,researchers have said.
The test, known as Decipher, analyses genes inprostate cancer cells to assess how aggressive a tumour is and how likely it is to spread.
Findings from research involving about 6,000 patients, presented at the 2026 European Society for Medical Oncology Congress in Madrid, suggest that the test could help doctors tailor treatment to individual patients.
Researchers found that men with high-risk prostate cancer but low Decipher scores had lower rates of cancer spread and might be able to avoid some forms of intensified treatment. Those with high scores could be prioritised for additional therapy.
Dr Sarah Howlett of University College London’s Cancer Institute said preventing cancer from spreading was critical for men with very high-risk prostate cancer.
She said genomic testing could help doctors identify patients who were more likely to benefit from intensive treatment and those who might safely avoid some additional interventions.
The research also examined whether the Decipher score could help predict which patients would benefit from adding abiraterone to standard prostate cancer treatment.
Abiraterone is a hormone-targeting drug that blocks testosterone production, helping to slow the growth of prostate cancer cells that depend on the hormone.
Related research found that adding the drug to standard treatment for men with high-risk prostate cancer could halve the risk of death and slow disease progression.
The Decipher test also helped identify patients whose cancer had not spread to their lymph nodes but who might benefit from abiraterone to reduce the risk of further spread.
Elai Davicioni, medical director of urology at Veracyte, the company that produces the test, said the findings could strengthen the evidence for using genomic information when making important treatment decisions.
He said the approach could help doctors weigh the potential benefits of treatment against its effects on patients’ quality of life.
The test analyses a small sample of tissue collected during a biopsy, using genetic information from cancer cells to assess the tumour’s behaviour.
The findings come amid ongoing debate about how best to detect prostate cancer early while avoiding unnecessary treatment.
The prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test is commonly used to help identify possible prostate cancer. However, elevated PSA levels do not always mean that a man has an aggressive tumour.
This makes it difficult to distinguish fast-growing cancers that require treatment from slow-growing tumours that may never cause serious harm.
In the United Kingdom, men aged 50 and above can request a PSA test through their general practitioner if they have concerns. Those with raised levels may be referred for further tests and scans.
The UK National Screening Committee has advised against routinely screening all men with the PSA test, citing concerns about overdiagnosis and overtreatment, including unnecessary surgery and radiotherapy.
The issue has attracted renewed attention following calls by Olympic cycling champion Sir Chris Hoy, who has terminal cancer, for more men to be offered prostate cancer testing, particularly those with a family history of the disease.
In January, the UK’s National Health Service expanded eligibility for abiraterone to include more men with high-risk prostate cancer whose disease had not yet spread, widening access beyond patients with advanced cancer.
Researchers said genomic tests such as Decipher could help improve treatment decisions by identifying patients more likely to benefit from additional therapy.
However, the findings do not mean that men should decline or stop prescribed treatment based solely on a genetic score. Treatment decisions should be made with specialist clinicians, taking into account the patient’s cancer characteristics, overall health, and the likely benefits and risks of available options.
Recent Posts
- Politics
2027: NDC constitutes national campaign council, names Dickson chairman
The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has constituted its National Campaign Council for the 2027 general…
- Education
FG disburses N38.93bn to 166 public tertiary institutions
The Federal Government has disbursed ₦38.93 billion to 166 public tertiary institutions nationwide under the…
- Metro
Police: 18-year-old wife stabs husband over money, phone, others in Bauchi
The Bauchi State Police Command says it is doing everything possible to unravel how a…
- Features
5 health benefits of swimming
Swimming is more than a recreational activity. It is a form of exercise that engages…
- Latest News
Trump rules out possible Iran strike today
United States President, Donald Trump, has ruled out a fresh American strike on Iran on…
- Politics
Imo ADC flags off 2027 Owerri federal constituency campaign
The Imo State chapter of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has officially launched its 2027…
