OBD has developed a prognostic prostate cancer test (OBD73) to differentiate those with the most aggressive forms of prostate cancer from those with the least aggressive forms of prostate cancer. Gleason scores and staging information are commonly used to determine the aggressiveness of prostate cancer and we divide patients into the severity groups:
- Least aggressive prostate cancer – (i.e. Gleason scores of 4-6 AND EITHER aged > 65 years OR at Stage I / II of disease)
- Intermediate cases – (i.e. Gleason score of 7 AND EITHER aged < 65 years OR Stage III/IV of disease)
- Most aggressive cancer – (i.e. Gleason scores of 8 or higher AND EITHER aged < 65 years OR Stage III/IV of disease)
These are based on guidelines suggested by Cancer Research UK and the Prostate Cancer Foundation, except that the results of PSA tests are not included. OBD73 utilises chromosomal interactions in the loci of important prostate cancer progression genes including: PTEN, PSMA, and SAM68. The read-out from this score can be used with other information about PSA levels and patient age along with well-being to give physicians more accurate information about a patient’s prognosis and to determine the best possible treatment strategy.
The EpiSwitch™ OBD73 Prostate Cancer Prognosis Test is available for any patient with diagnosed prostate cancer. The physician should take into account the aggressiveness score given by the OBD73 test in determining the optimum treatment for patients.
