Dr. Sokolova on the Rationale for Systematic Germline Testing in Prostate Cancer

Alexandra Sokolova, MD, a hematology/oncology fellow of the University of Washington, discusses the rationale for ​systematic germline testing in patients with metastatic prostate cancer.

In 2017, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines recommended germline testing for all men with metastatic prostate cancer, says Sokolova. In 2019, the guidelines were updated to include all men with high-risk, localized prostate cancer or those with a family history ​of prostate cancer. 

Implementation of a better genetic testing model is an area of unmet need in prostate cancer as there is no streamlined infrastructure to deliver effective services to these men, explains Sokolova. To that end, a prospective, pilot study aimed to test the feasibility of systematic genetic testing in all men with metastatic disease receiving care at the VA Puget Sound Health Care System.