In this episode we discuss genomic testing for prostate cancer. Historically, decision making for the treatment of prostate cancer has been guided by factors such as abnormalities felt by a physician during a prostate examination, the level of the PSA blood test, and the microscopic appearance of cells obtained from a prostate biopsy. More recently however, DNA testing has started to play a larger and larger role. Genetic material obtained from the blood, urine and prostate itself is being analyzed via genetic and genomic testing to help determine whether someone may or may not have significant prostate cancer and whether they need further biopsies or treatment. But how are these tests actually performed? What is the difference between genetic and genomic testing? How reliable are they? And how much value do they actually bring to the decision making process surrounding the treatment of prostate cancer. To answer these questions and many more we turned to a true expert.
Dr. Jeffrey Tosoian
Dr. Jeffrey Tosoian is an assistant professor of Urology at Vanderbilt University. He earned his medical degree and Master of Public Health in epidemiology and biostatistical methods for clinical research at Johns Hopkins. He completed residency training in urology at the Johns Hopkins Brady Urological Institute. During that time, he worked closely with Dr. Bal Carter to describe the Johns Hopkins experience with one of the first programs of monitoring low risk prostate cancer – work that contributed to active surveillance now being a standard of care management. He then completed a fellowship in urologic oncology at the University of Michigan. His research is focused on the development and clinical application of new, non-invasive tests for cancer, including blood-, urine-, and tissue-based biomarkers, as well as novel imaging techniques, to improve the clinical approach to diagnosing and treating genitourinary cancers. Clinically, his practice includes operative and non-operative management of prostate, bladder, kidney, and testicular cancers. He has authored more than 100 publications in high-impact journals including JAMA, JAMA Oncology, and Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Disclosure: Dr. Tosoian has a minor equity interest in LynxDx, which commercializes cancer diagnostics, including the urinary MyProstateScore test for high-grade prostate cancer (discussed in the podcast).