Huma Q. Rana, MD, MPH, clinical director, Cancer Genetics and Prevention, and assistant professor of medicine, Harvard Medical School, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, discusses the use of age at diagnosis to guide the utility of genetic testing in men with prostate cancer.

, findings from the randomized ProGen study showed a high uptake of both genetic counseling and video education and a high completion of genetic testing among men with prostate cancer.

Logistic regression models were performed to determine whether metastatic prostate cancer, age at diagnosis of prostate cancer, Gleason score, or hormone-sensitive prostate cancer were predictive of genetic testing result or 

Results showed that patients under the age of 65 had a higher likelihood of having any positive genetic testing result (

 = .007), explains Rana. Moreover, 15% of patients under the age of 65 had positive genetic findings.

However, 8% of patients 65 years of age or older also had positive test results, says Rana.

As such, age at diagnosis should not be used to determine whether a man with prostate cancer is a good candidate for germline genetic testing, concludes Rana.

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Huma Q. Rana, MD, MPH, discusses the use of age at diagnosis to guide the utility of genetic testing in men with prostate cancer.



Dr. Rana on Using Age at Diagnosis to Guide the Utility of Genetic Testing in Prostate Cancer

Huma Q. Rana, MD, MPH, clinical director, Cancer Genetics and Prevention, assistant professor of medicine, Harvard Medical School, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, discusses germline genetic testing in men with advanced prostate cancer.

Historically, genetic testing has been a mainstay for women with a personal or family history of breast cancer, says Rana. However, germline genetic testing should extend to men with advanced prostate cancer and men with potentially lethal prostate cancer.

However, there are challenges with implementing widespread genetic testing in this patient population, and reevaluation of testing methods is needed, explains Rana.

Logistical challenges regarding testing include additional appointments for patients with advanced disease, limited knowledge of germline genetic testing in the clinic, and a lack of genetics experts, concludes Rana.

Huma Q. Rana, MD, MPH, discusses germline genetic testing in men with advanced prostate cancer.


Huma Q. Rana, MD, MPH

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Dr. Rana on Using Age at Diagnosis to Guide the Utility of Genetic Testing in Prostate Cancer

Dr. Rana on Germline Genetic Testing in Advanced Prostate Cancer