New Test Could Change Prostate Cancer Treatment for Men
A recent study suggests a groundbreaking diagnostic test could significantly improve the treatment experience for men facing prostate cancer. Researchers from University College London (UCL) conducted an analysis using a tissue-based test named Decipher. This test helps identify which men with high-risk prostate cancer may benefit from stronger treatments, possibly sparing others from unnecessary medications and side effects.
The focus of this study was on a hormone therapy called abiraterone. This treatment demonstrated its effectiveness by reducing the risk of death by half among men with high-risk, localized prostate cancer, according to findings from the STAMPEDE trial.
The study was shared at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress 2026, held in Madrid from October 23 to 27.
Not all cancers are the same, and over-treating some patients can lead to unwanted side effects and a lower quality of life, according to a statement from UCL. Because prostate cancer can vary on a molecular level, some patients may not gain much from adding hormone therapy to their treatment plan.
The research team looked at test scores from over 27,000 patients, including 401 men with non-metastatic prostate cancer who were part of the STAMPEDE trial, to assess whether the Decipher test could help inform treatment decisions.
Results showed that higher Decipher scores indicated a greater likelihood of cancer spread, suggesting that these patients may benefit from additional treatment. Conversely, lower Decipher scores indicated that more aggressive therapy might not be necessary.
Dr. Sarah Howlett, the lead researcher, stated that for men with very high-risk prostate cancer, it is vital to prevent the disease from spreading. “Understanding who will benefit most from extra treatments can truly make a difference,” she noted.
The findings emphasize that genomic testing could help create personalized treatment plans for prostate cancer patients. Men with high-risk prostate cancer and low Decipher scores could have a lower chance of their cancer spreading and may not need more intense therapies. In contrast, those with high scores might be more suitable for additional treatment options.
Both a large dataset and a controlled clinical trial supported these results, enhancing their validity. However, Dr. Howlett cautioned that more research is required before making the Decipher test a standard tool in treatment decision-making.
Elai Davicioni, medical director of urology at Veracyte, the company behind the Decipher test, remarked that the accumulating evidence strengthens the case for doctors to use the test to guide treatment decisions that could impact both the cancer outcome and patients’ quality of life.
Dr. Marc Siegel, a senior medical analyst not involved in this study, echoed the findings, highlighting that prostate cancer does not affect everyone the same way. He pointed out that localized prostate cancer can have mutations that predict its aggressiveness and potential response to therapies.
As new targeted therapies become more common for advanced prostate cancer, they incorporate powerful anti-androgens that work on both the testes and the adrenals. However, hormone therapies can lead to significant side effects and are not always effective.
The strength of the study lies in its combination of randomized treatment groups and Decipher testing, which helps identify patients who are likely to respond well to intensive hormone therapy. “This approach represents the precision medicine of the future,” Dr. Siegel stated.
In the United States, prostate cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer deaths, following lung cancer, with about one in eight men expected to be diagnosed during their lifetime.
