Dr. George on the Clinical Benefit of Phenotypic Evaluation in Prostate Cancer

Daniel J. George, MD, professor of medicine and of surgery, Duke Cancer Institute, discusses the clinical benefits of evaluating phenotype in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC).

The identification of biomarkers through screening and imaging modalities can provide advantages for mCRPC detection and treatment, George explains. Tumor phenotypes can display mutations or altered gene expression that can be identified through functional imaging techniques, he adds.

These imaging techniques provide information on the uptake of key molecular markers, which can be used to identify distinct tumor subtypes, George explains. The analysis of molecular uptake also provides information on the volume of cancer at different sites of metastases, he notes.

Additionally, PSMA-PET scans can elucidate patterns of disease due to their sensitivity and specificity. Overall, cancer phenotyping can allow for improved and individualized selection of targeted therapies for patients with mCRPC, George concludes.