Genetic Markers Improve Predictive Performance for Prostate Cancer

A genetic score based on prostate cancer (PCa) risk-associated single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) is an independent predictor of prostate biopsy outcomes.

This genetic score can improve predictive performance of existing clinical variables, especially for patients with a total prostate-specific antigen levels greater than 20 ng/mL.

Scientists at Fudan University (Shanghai, China) evaluated whether a genetic score based on these 25 PCa-risk-associated SNPs can independently predict outcome of prostate biopsy, and improve the predictive performance of existing clinical variables such as prostate-specific antigen (PSA).

Since January 2010, 312 consecutive patients who underwent prostate biopsy for detection of PCa at Huashan Hospital (Shanghai, China) were recruited for the study. All clinical variables such as serum PSA levels as well as DNA samples from peripheral blood were collected prior to biopsy. Twenty-five SNPs were genotyped using the MassARRAY platform (Sequenom; San Diego, CA, USA). The detection rate of PCa was also used to assess performance of predictors.

The results of the study revealed that the PCa detection rate was 45% overall in the biopsy cohort, and was 29% and 79%, respectively for patients with total PSA levels in excess of 20 ng/mL, equivalent to about 33% of the cohort. Age, total PSA levels, and genetic score were statistically significant independent predictors of biopsy outcomes.

The authors wrote that, "In a recent study with a large number of cases and controls from the Chinese Consortium for PCa Genetics, we identified 25 SNPs that were significantly associated with PCa risk and obtained odds ratio (OR) estimates for these SNPs in Chinese men." The study was presented at the 28th Annual European Association of Urology Congress held March 15–19, 2013, in Milan (Italy).

Related Links:
Fudan University
Huashan Hospital
Sequenom