We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress
Sign In
Advertise with Us
PURITAN MEDICAL

Download Mobile App




Biomarker Found for Prostate Cancer Treatment Response

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 27 Nov 2018
Print article
Image: The Quant-iT high sensitivity PicoGreen double-stranded DNA Assay Kit (Photo courtesy of Invitrogen).
Image: The Quant-iT high sensitivity PicoGreen double-stranded DNA Assay Kit (Photo courtesy of Invitrogen).
Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers in males and has one of the highest five-year survival rate when diagnosed in the localized stage. When diagnosed in the advanced stage or when a localized tumor relapses after the initial local treatment, the usual procedure is to fight it using male hormone (androgen) deprivation therapy.

Treatment can be done either by surgical removal of the testicles or using medication that eliminates the testosterone production (chemical castration). However, many of the patients, up to 90%, after the initial castration develop more aggressive, castration-resistant forms and their survival rate is around two years. This most aggressive type of prostate cancer can be treated with two different therapies: taxanes or hormone treatment.

An international team of scientists led by the Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST) IRCCS (Meldola, Italy) selected the 115 patients treated with docetaxel as first-line therapy and in an exploratory analysis compared them with 73 previously described patients treated with first-line abiraterone/enzalutamide. A comparison of clinicopathological characteristics between patients receiving either docetaxel or abiraterone/enzalutamide as first-line therapy showed significant differences in age, site of metastases.

The team measured prostate-specific antigen (PSA), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), hemoglobin, alkaline phosphatase, and plasma androgen receptor (AR) status. Circulating DNA was extracted from plasma with the QIAamp Circulating Nucleic Acid Kit and quantified with the Quant-iT high sensitivity PicoGreen double-stranded DNA Assay Kit or by NanoDrop ND-1000 spectrophotometric evaluation.

The scientists determined that castration-resistant prostate cancer patients having a normal number of copies of the gene encoding the androgen receptor (AR), the one regulating cellular signals mediated by male sex hormones, in the circulating tumor DNA, seem to have a lower risk of disease progression and a higher life expectancy when they are treated with abiraterone/enzalutamide, with a 50% higher survival rate compared to docetaxel, where the average life expectancy was around 24 months. On the other hand, the patients with more copies of the androgen receptor gene respond slightly better to docetaxel, with a higher life expectancy, around nine months, compared to abiraterone/enzalutamide.

The authors concluded that their findings suggest that AR gain detected in plasma is associated with resistance to abiraterone/enzalutamide but not with taxanes when used in the first-line setting. In conclusion, prospective randomized trials are warranted to validate the utility of plasma AR status for treatment selection in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer patients. The study was published on October 26, 2018, in the journal European Urology.

Related Links:
Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori

Platinum Member
COVID-19 Rapid Test
OSOM COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test
HLX
Complement 3 (C3) Test
GPP-100 C3 Kit
Gold Member
Reagent Reservoirs
Reagent Reservoirs

Print article

Channels

Clinical Chemistry

view channel
Image: Reaching speeds up to 6,000 RPM, this centrifuge forms the basis for a new type of inexpensive, POC biomedical test (Photo courtesy of Duke University)

POC Biomedical Test Spins Water Droplet Using Sound Waves for Cancer Detection

Exosomes, tiny cellular bioparticles carrying a specific set of proteins, lipids, and genetic materials, play a crucial role in cell communication and hold promise for non-invasive diagnostics.... Read more

Molecular Diagnostics

view channel
Image: The study showed the blood-based cancer screening test detects 83% of people with colorectal cancer with specificity of 90% (Photo courtesy of Guardant Health)

Blood Test Shows 83% Accuracy for Detecting Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer is the second biggest cause of cancer deaths among adults in the U.S., with forecasts suggesting 53,010 people might die from it in 2024. While fewer older adults are dying from this... Read more

Hematology

view channel
Image: The Gazelle Hb Variant Test (Photo courtesy of Hemex Health)

First Affordable and Rapid Test for Beta Thalassemia Demonstrates 99% Diagnostic Accuracy

Hemoglobin disorders rank as some of the most prevalent monogenic diseases globally. Among various hemoglobin disorders, beta thalassemia, a hereditary blood disorder, affects about 1.5% of the world's... Read more

Microbiology

view channel
Image: The new platform is designed to perform blood-based diagnoses of nontuberculosis mycobacteria (Photo courtesy of 123RF)

New Blood Test Cuts Diagnosis Time for Nontuberculous Mycobacteria Infections from Months to Hours

Breathing in nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) is a common experience for many people. These bacteria are present in water systems, soil, and dust all over the world and usually don't cause any problems.... Read more

Industry

view channel
Image: These new assays are being developed for use on the recently introduced DxI 9000 Immunoassay Analyzer (Photo courtesy of Beckman Coulter)

Beckman Coulter and Fujirebio Expand Partnership on Neurodegenerative Disease Diagnostics

Beckman Coulter Diagnostics (Brea, CA, USA) and Fujirebio Diagnostics (Tokyo, Japan) have expanded their partnership focused on the development, manufacturing and clinical adoption of neurodegenerative... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2024 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.