Educated Patient® Prostate Cancer Summit Genomics Presentation: May 21, 2022

Genomics can help to identify certain mutations and alterations in patients with prostate cancer, which can then help personalize treatment decisions, according to an expert.

Evaluating genomics – which is done through next generation sequencing, can help identify which mutations or alterations a patient may have, and which targeted therapy they may benefit from the most, Dr. Umang Swami, assistant professor of medicine at the Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah, explained at the CURE® Educated Patient® Prostate Cancer Summit.

Swami highlighted the use of two PARP inhibitors that are currently approved for certain mutations in prostate cancer:

• Lynparza (Olaparib) in patients with deleterious or suspected deleterious germline or somatic HRR gene-mutated metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer who have progressed following prior treatment with Xtandi (enzalutamide) or Zytiga (abiraterone); and
• Rubraca (rucaparib) in adult patients with a deleterious BRCA-associated metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer who have been treated with androgen receptor-directed therapy and a taxane-based chemotherapy.

Swami added that genomics may also indicate how aggressive the cancer is. “These mutations, if identified, gives access to these drugs like (Lynparza) and (Rubraca) which are already approved for patients who have (certain) alterations in the metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer, but they can also help is getting access to clinical trials in the metastatic prostate cancer setting,” he explained.

Swami said that certain mutations in a patients’ genomics may allow them to participate in clinical trials tailored to their disease, which can be beneficial as there are many currently underway in the space.

He said evaluating the genomic profile allows for more treatment options for patients, for some they may be able to benefit from the PARP inhibitors, for others it is immunotherapies or something that is off label. The genomic testing can also identify is a patient is at risk for a secondary cancer.

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