Researchers at University College London (UCL) analyzed a tissue-based molecular test called Decipher to determine which men with high-risk prostate cancer<\/a> were most likely to benefit from stronger treatment \u2014 and which might avoid unnecessary medication and side effects.<\/p>\n The analysis focused on abiraterone, a hormone therapy that was shown in the STAMPEDE clinical trial to cut the risk of death in half among men with high-risk, localized prostate cancer.<\/p>\n The findings were presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress 2026 in Madrid, held Oct. 23\u201327.<\/p>\n JOE BIDEN SHARES HEALTH UPDATE AFTER PROSTATE CANCER DIAGNOSIS WHILE ISSUING WARNING TO OTHERS<\/a><\/p>\n Not every cancer is alike, and treating someone more aggressively than necessary could have “increased side effects and poorer quality of life,” noted a UCL news release.<\/p>\n Because prostate cancers differ at the molecular level, not every patient benefits from adding hormone therapy.<\/p>\n Adding a hormone therapy called abiraterone to standard treatment for men with high-risk, localized prostate cancer could cut the risk of death in half, the trial found. <\/p>\n To determine whether Decipher could help guide that decision, researchers examined test scores from more than 27,000 patients in real-world data and 401 men with non-metastatic prostate cancer<\/a> who had participated in the STAMPEDE abiraterone trial.<\/p>\n PATIENTS REMAIN CANCER-FREE NEARLY 3 YEARS AFTER RECEIVING EXPERIMENTAL IMMUNOTHERAPY<\/a><\/p>\n Higher Decipher scores predicted worse outcomes, meaning the cancer is more likely to spread and additional treatment may be valuable. A low Decipher score suggested more intensive treatment may be unnecessary.<\/p>\n CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP<\/a><\/p>\n Lead researcher Dr. Sarah Howlett of UCL Cancer Institute commented in a statement that for men with very high-risk prostate cancer<\/a>, preventing spread of the disease is “critical.”<\/p>\n “Understanding who benefits most from additional treatment can make a meaningful difference,” she added.<\/p>\n A genomic test could help to personalize treatments for prostate cancer patients, the researchers suggested. (iStock)<\/p>\n The findings suggest that genomic testing could help tailor treatment, according to the researcher.<\/p>\n Men with high-risk prostate cancer and low Decipher scores may face a lower risk of spread and could avoid more intensive therapy, while those with high scores may be the strongest candidates for additional treatment<\/a>.<\/p>\n Identifying the same pattern in both a large, real-world dataset and a randomized clinical trial strengthens the findings, Howlett noted.<\/p>\n CANCER WARNING SIGNS MAY APPEAR IN DNA YEARS BEFORE BLOOD TESTS DETECT TROUBLE<\/a><\/p>\n “But further validation in other datasets is needed before the test is used routinely to make these decisions,” she said.<\/p>\n Elai Davicioni, medical director of urology for Decipher test maker Veracyte, also commented, “We believe this growing evidence gives physicians a stronger reason to use Decipher before making decisions that can affect both cancer outcomes and patients\u2019 quality of life<\/a>.”<\/p>\n Men with high-risk prostate cancer and low Decipher scores may face a lower risk of spread and could avoid more intensive therapy, while those with high scores may be the strongest candidates for additional treatment. (iStock)<\/p>\n Fox News senior medical analyst Dr. Marc Siegel, who was not involved in the study, also commented on the findings.<\/p>\n CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES<\/a><\/p>\n “Prostate cancer varies from person to person,” he said. “Medical science<\/a> is increasingly aware that it is not one size fits all.”<\/p>\n Localized prostate cancer, which has not yet spread, may contain mutations that predict how aggressive the disease will be and indicate whether it could respond to targeted therapies, Siegel noted.<\/p>\n About one in eight American men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime, according to the American Cancer Society. (iStock)<\/p>\n Certain targeted therapies are being used more with widespread prostate cancer, according to the doctor, as they include “more powerful anti-androgens, which works not just on the testes, but on the adrenals as well.”<\/p>\n Hormone therapies have “significant side effects,” including fatigue, and “don\u2019t always help,” he added.<\/p>\n TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ<\/a><\/p>\n Siegel said the study\u2019s strength was its combination of a randomized treatment group with Decipher testing, which helped identify in advance which patients were most likely to respond to intensive hormone therapy<\/a>.<\/p>\n “This is the personalized, precise approach of the near future,” he said.<\/p>\n![\"Male](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/58f516d9-man-at-doctor.jpg\")
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