Decipher molecular test aids high-risk prostate cancer personalization

Researchers from University College London (UCL) have demonstrated that the Decipher tissue-based molecular test can help personalize treatment for men with high-risk, localized prostate cancer. The study aims to address the clinical challenge of balancing intensive treatment, which can reduce mortality, against the risk of unnecessary aggressive therapy that leads to side effects and reduced quality of life.

By analyzing data from the STAMPEDE clinical trial and a larger real-world dataset, the team found that higher Decipher scores consistently predict worse clinical outcomes. Specifically, for every 0.1 increase in the score, there was a measurable increase in the risk of distant metastasis and death from prostate cancer. The findings suggest the test can identify which patients with non-metastatic cancer would benefit most from adding abiraterone hormone therapy to standard treatments to prevent the disease from spreading.