Alan H. Bryce, MD, presented “Using Genetic Testing in Prostate Cancer When and How” during the 27th Annual Southwest Prostate Cancer Symposium conference on October 17, 2024, in Scottsdale, Arizona.
How to cite: Bryce, Alan H. “Using Genetic Testing in Prostate Cancer When and How.” October 17, 2024. Accessed Feb 2025. https://grandroundsinurology.com/using-genetic-testing-in-prostate-cancer-when-and-how/
Using Genetic Testing in Prostate Cancer When and How – Summary
Alan H. Bryce, MD, delves into the critical role of genetic testing in prostate cancer management. In this 35-minute presentation, Dr. Bryce discusses germline and somatic testing, stressing the importance of genetic testing as a consensus recommendation for men with high-risk, very high-risk, or metastatic prostate cancer while acknowledging its underutilization in real-world practices.
Dr. Bryce reviews pivotal studies, such as Pritchard’s 2016 research, and underscores the value of testing beyond BRCA1 and BRCA2 to include full genetic panels. Addressing the evolving nature of cancer, he advocates for periodic retesting, highlighting how tumors adapt under treatment and how earlier test results can become outdated or incomplete.
Bryce critiques the reliance on family history as a screening tool, demonstrating its limitations in identifying carriers of pathogenic variants. He also examines active surveillance in men with germline mutations, offering insights into its feasibility and risks based on small-scale datasets. In addition, Bryce recommends fresh tissue or cell-free DNA testing over archival tissue due to the degradation and inaccuracies in older samples.
Overall, Bryce emphasizes integrating genetic testing into practice for better patient outcomes and informed family risk assessment. By presenting compelling data and practical insights, this talk is an essential guide for clinicians navigating the complexities of genetic testing in prostate cancer.
About the 27th Annual Southwest Prostate Cancer Symposium:
Presented by Program Chairs Nelson N. Stone, MD, Richard G. Stock, MD, and William K. Oh, MD, this conference educated attendees about advances in the management of localized and advanced prostate cancer, with a focus on imaging, technology, and training in the related devices. It included a scientific session, as well as live demonstrations of surgical techniques. You can learn more about the conference here.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Alan H. Bryce, MD, is a medical oncologist and chief clinical officer at City of Hope in Phoenix, Arizona. Dr. Bryce holds an appointment as a professor with the Department of Medical Oncology & Therapeutics Research, with City of Hope, as well as an appointment as a professor of Molecular Medicine at Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), which is also part of City of Hope.
Prior to joining City of Hope, Dr. Bryce spent 12 years at the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix, where he served as chair of the Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, as well as Director of the Mayo Clinic Arizona Comprehensive Cancer Center. Dr. Bryce received his medical degree from the Chicago Medical School, and then completed an internal medicine residency and a hematology and oncology fellowship at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. During his time at Mayo, Dr. Bryce served as an international co-principal investigator on multiple clinical trials for prostate cancer, with his research focused on cancer genetics, novel therapies and immunotherapeutic approaches.
