Blood Test Biopsies May Offer Alternative in Prostate Cancer

1. Men whose doctors suspect they have metastatic prostate cancer may find an alternative to standard biopsies available to them someday down the road. Researchers working on blood test, or “liquid” biopsies, are making headway in their mission. The tests are meant to replace the need for tissue biopsies in cases where obtaining samples can be painful, risky and quite costly, as is the case when metastatic prostate cancer is believed to have reached the bone. A recent study on the viability of such testing showed promising results. The study focused on one specific test that found the blood draw was able to detect metastatic cancer in about 94 percent of the patients. The test was also found to be helpful in enabling researchers to detect genetic changes that would provide important prognostic information. How soon such alternatives to biopsies might be available for routine use remains unclear. What is clear, however, is that preliminary results are quite promising. As further studies are conducted and refinements are made, this form of testing may make confirming and understanding the nature of metastatic tumors less invasive on men. Prostate cancer is anticipated to strike about 160,000 American men in the coming year. The disease will claim less than 30,000 lives. Men who are concerned about the disease and their risks are urged to talk

2. with their healthcare providers. Early detection and treatment of this disease can and does save lives. Diagnosis of advanced prostate cancer is relatively rare, but it does remain a threat. While many prostate cancers are considered low-risk and relatively slow growing, that is not always the case. That reality makes undergoing routine screening important for all men as they age. To find out more about risks and testing, speak with a personal healthcare provider. Doctors may also be able to offer insights on how to lessen personal risk factors.