Accelerating the implementation of blood-based genomic testing for people living with metastatic prostate cancer in British Columbia

Prostate cancer is expected to be the most commonly diagnosed cancer in British Columbia (BC) by 2030. Modern patient management requires cancer genetic testing in order to understand cancer prognosis, choose effective treatments, and inform on cancer risk for patient family members. However, prostate cancer genetic testing is underused in routine care due to difficulties in obtaining representative and high-quality tumour material. In addition, we do not yet know which genes are the most important to test. Our existing tests in BC also do not cover all possible genetic changes, so clinically-meaningful results may be missed.

This research will optimize and apply a comprehensive genetic test in over 3000 people with advanced prostate cancer, predominantly from BC. To make an accessible and practical test, we will use patient blood samples and will use new technology to analyze the tumour DNA that cancers shed into the blood. Results of this study will tell us about the frequency and clinical importance of specific genetic changes in the BC population, and demonstrate feasibility of routine blood-based testing. Results will be translated to next-generation clinical-grade tests offered to BC patients going forward.