Dr. Lin on the Limitations of Current Biomarkers in Prostate Cancer

Daniel W. Lin, MD, professor, Department of Urology, chief, Urologic Oncology, University of Washington School of Medicine, associate professor, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, and physician, Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, discusses the limitations of currently available biomarkers in prostate cancer.

Biomarkers that are ready for prime time are expected to be incorporated into standard genomic testing as they can be linked with available agents that have been proven to prolong survival and improve the quality of life in the long-term setting, ​says Lin. However, certain biomarkers in prostate cancer are not ready for prime time and thus, additional research is of critical importance.

Genomic testing ​with biomarkers can provide valuable knowledge and can ​help ​to guide treatment selection, says Lin. As the field continues to investigate this concept, the role of biomarkers should be explored in combination with other clinical variables and models, such as guidelines from the National Comprehensive Cancer Network and the American Urological Association, Lin concludes.