Dr Miron on the Methods of Examining Molecular Alterations in Intraductal Carcinoma of the Prostate

Benjamin Miron, MD, medical oncologist, researcher, Fox Chase Cancer Center, discusses the methods utilized in a study of molecular alterations in patients with intraductal carcinoma of the prostate and the next steps for this research.

At the 2023 ASCO Annual Meeting, Miron and colleagues shared results from this study that examined molecular alterations found in a cohort of patients with intraductal carcinoma of the prostate through an analysis of tissue samples obtained following radical prostatectomy. Investigators then conducted DNA and RNA sequencing to gather additional molecular profiling data to better characterize this histology.

Notably, it was found that the most prevalent alterations in this cohort of patients were TMPRSS2 fusions (38.7%), TP53 alterations (38.7%), FOXA1 alterations (16.1%), SPOP alterations (9.7%), CDK12 alterations (9.7%), and PIK3CA alterations (9.7%).

Investigators evaluated 31 patients, Miron begins, noting that the cohort was small since intraductal carcinoma of the prostate is a relatively new addition to the diagnostic criteria. Investigators are aiming to identify additional cases, he adds. However, in the 31 evaluable patients thus far, 84% had grade group 5 disease, which aligned with what was previously understood about intraductal prostate cancer, Miron explains.

To expand on these initial findings, Miron and colleagues are working closely with a team of pathologists to sort through potential cases and identify more patients via digital pathology slides, Miron says. The goal is to expand this cohort of patients, and once more data regarding the molecular profile of intraductal carcinoma of the prostate are gathered, a comparison could be made against a cohort of patients with prostate adenocarcinoma, he adds. Once this data is obtained, investigators will have a much more robust study, Miron concludes.