Dr. Veda N. Giri, MD, presented “The Role of Genetic Testing for Inherited Prostate Cancer Risk” at the Philadelphia Prostate Cancer Consensus 2017. 

The Role of Genetic Testing for Inherited Prostate Cancer Risk

Summary:

Dr. Veda N. Giri, MD, commenced the Philadelphia Prostate Cancer Consensus 2017 by explaining the purpose and need for creating updated, centralized guidelines regarding genetic testing for inherited prostate cancer.

She summarizes the scientific research advances since 1999 which prove the link between genetic mutations, especially BRCA and BRCA2. Also, researchers identified HOXB13 as the first hereditary prostate cancer gene. Then, Dr. Giri relates these scientific advances to a rise in clinical capabilities, such as next generation sequencing technology and prostate cancer multigene panel testing.

Presently, the state of knowledge and practices regarding genomics and prostate cancer is nebulous. Therefore, the urological community needs centralized, comprehensive guidelines to describe the proper approach for genetic testing for prostate cancer.

During the Philadelphia Prostate Cancer Consensus 2017, experts in urology, urologic oncology, and genomics aimed to finalize a draft for the guidelines.

Dr. Giri urged the conference members to focus on addressing the criteria for referring a patient, how is genetic counseling relevant to men at risk for prostate cancer, which genes to test, and how this informs the management of patients.

Up next: “The Burden of Prostate Cancer Today and in the Future” by Dr. Patrick Walsh, MD