Health · Medical Research · 1 hr ago
Tumour test may help target intensive prostate cancer treatment
Researchers at University College London say a tumour test may help guide treatment for men with high-risk prostate cancer.
The Decipher test analyses 22 genes in tissue already taken during a biopsy or operation, so it does not require another procedure.
In data from more than 30,000 men, higher Decipher scores were linked to worse outcomes, including a greater risk of cancer spreading or death.
Abiraterone is a hormone treatment that blocks testosterone production, and studies suggest adding it to standard care can cut the risk of dying from prostate cancer in half.
The test could help doctors prioritise intensive treatment for men most likely to benefit and avoid unnecessary side-effects for others.
Larger studies are still needed before the test can routinely guide treatment decisions.
A tumour test may help doctors identify men with high-risk prostate cancer who are most likely to benefit from intensive treatment.
The Decipher test analyses the activity of 22 genes in tumour tissue collected during a biopsy or prostate operation.
Researchers said higher test scores were linked to poorer outcomes, including a greater risk of cancer spreading and of death from prostate cancer.
The findings suggest men with lower scores might avoid additional treatment and its side-effects, while those with higher scores could be prioritised.
The study’s lead author said larger studies are needed before the test is routinely used to guide treatment.
- Who
- Researchers at University College London studied the test. The study’s lead author was Dr Sarah Howlett.
- What
- The Decipher test may help identify which men with high-risk prostate cancer are most likely to benefit from abiraterone added to standard treatment.
- When
- The findings were reported on 23 October 2026.
- Where
- The study was presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology Congress in Madrid.
- Why
- Doctors lack a reliable way to identify which patients are most likely to benefit from intensive treatment and which may experience side-effects without significant added benefit.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Researchers analysed data from more than 30,000 men in the STAMPEDE trial.
The findings were reported after being presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology Congress in Madrid.
- Test
- Decipher analyses 22 genes in tumour tissue
- Score
- Between 0 and 1, with higher scores indicating greater risk
- Risk association
- Each 0.1 score increase was associated with a 49 per cent higher risk of cancer spreading to distant organs
- Mortality association
- Each 0.1 score increase was associated with a 38 per cent higher risk of dying from prostate cancer
- Study data
- More than 30,000 men in the STAMPEDE trial
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What people are saying
Abiraterone saves lives but we may currently be over-treating some patients with this therapy
With this test, we can identify which patients need the treatment most and avoid it for those who don't, giving doctors more of an idea of which patients are at the highest risk of their cancer returning.
Our findings suggest that a genomic test could help personalise treatment: men with high-risk disease but a low Decipher score have low rates of cancer spread and could potentially be spared more intensive treatment, while men with a high score could be prioritised for it.