Blood Test May Identify Advanced Prostate Cancer Patients Suited for Targeted Radiation

A novel study conducted by researchers from The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, The Institute of Cancer Research, and University College London suggests that a simple blood draw could improve treatment planning for men with advanced prostate cancer. Published in the journal JAMA Network Open, the investigation evaluated data from the TRAP clinical trial to determine whether genetic material shed by tumors into the bloodstream can indicate how patients will react to stereotactic body radiotherapy.

The trial focused on 77 male participants with hormone-resistant oligoprogressive prostate cancer who received focused radiation therapy while maintaining standard hormone treatments. Investigators examined pre-treatment blood samples to detect circulating tumor DNA, which consists of tiny genetic fragments released by malignant cells. Out of the total cohort, 19 individuals had detectable levels of this genetic material prior to receiving radiation, whereas 58 showed no detectable traces.

What to know:

• Patients without detectable circulating tumor DNA experienced a median progression-free survival of 7.8 months, compared to three months for those who tested positive.
• Approximately 58% of individuals lacking detectable tumor fragments remained progression-free six months post-treatment, versus 21% of those with positive results.
• The observed correlation persisted even after adjusting for traditional clinical variables like patient age, PSA levels, and prior chemotherapy.

Lead investigator Alison Tree noted that this biomarker could reveal insights regarding cancer activity that remain invisible on standard imaging scans. However, experts emphasize that this study is an early step involving a relatively small patient cohort, and observational findings cannot yet dictate standard clinical pathways. Readers should consult qualified healthcare providers before making personal medical decisions.