Dr. Klein on Oncotype DX in Predicting Outcomes in African Americans With Prostate Cancer

Eric A. Klein, MD, professor, Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, member, GU Malignancies Program, Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University, chairman, Glickman Urological & Kidney Institute, Taussig Cancer Institute, Cleveland Clinic, discusses the utility of Oncotype DX Genomic Prostate Score in predicting outcomes in African American men with prostate cancer.

Oncotype DX is a test that is on the market which measures the expression of 17 genes off of a biopsy to help determine the aggressiveness of the prostate cancer, says Klein. Investigators have shown that the test can also predict the likelihood of developing metastatic disease or dying from prostate cancer 20 years out, says Klein. Oncotype DX has been on the market for several years now.

One group of investigators examined whether the test performed equally well in Caucasian American men versus those who were African American, which is important because the latter are at a higher risk of developing prostate cancer, explains Klein. The goal of the research was to learn whether this particular tool was useful in determining tumor aggressiveness. Results showed that the test was effective in that regard, adds Klein. In both cohorts, the test was found to have performed equally well and that should provide reassurance that self-identified race is not an important consideration when using this test, says Klein. One can have confidence in the test's utility in all groups of men, concludes Klein.