Unlock Cancer Treatment: Why Molecular Testing is a Game Changer

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men and the second most common cause of cancer death in men, accounting for 30% of new cancer diagnoses and 11% of cancer deaths in males. When diagnosed in early stages, 5- and 10-year survival rates are high; however, 5-year survival remains under 50% if disease is first detected when metastatic (Siegel et al, 2024). The last 15 years have seen significant advances in systemic therapeutic options for prostate cancer, rendering molecular testing necessary for selecting optimal therapy. Improving outcomes for patients relies on collaboration amongst the care team; pathologists have the crucial expertise for interpreting test results, while nurses play a critical role in connecting patients with support and preventing and managing adverse events. In this Virtual Tumor Board Challenge, Stephen Freedland, MD, Professor of Urology at Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center; Andrés Matoso, MD, Professor of Pathology, Urology, and Oncology at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine; and Jennifer Sutton, RN, BS, CCRC, Director of Nursing and Study Operations at START Carolinas, the START Center for Cancer Research, will navigate treatment selection and sequencing in metastatic prostate cancer through patient case studies.