In this ancillary analysis of the RTOG 9601 study, the researchers validated a 22-gene genomic classifier panel as a predictive biomarker for distant metastases in men with recurrent prostate cancer after radical prostatectomy. The final cohort included 352 men, 89.2% of whom were white. Genomic classifier scores in the final cohort were found to be associated with low risk in 42% of patients, intermediate in 38%, and high in 20% of patients. Multivariate analysis revealed a significant association between genomic classifier score and distant metastases, prostate cancer–specific mortality, and overall survival.
The findings of this study represent the first validation of a whole transcriptome–based genomic classifier as a predictive biomarker to help guide decision-making in patients with recurrent prostate cancer after radical prostatectomy. Additional studies may be needed to further expand the analyzed cohort to allow greater generalization.
