NEWLY DIAGNOSED PROSTATE CANCER GUIDE
Biomarker Testing Biomarker Testing and Precision Medicine
Biomarker testing and precision medicine are somewhat newer terms in the cancer space. Biomarker testing looks for genes, proteins, and tumor markers that tell us more about your specific cancer. Biomarkers can help doctors diagnose cancer and monitor cancer, and can also affect how some treatments will work for you. What is Biomarker Testing in Prostate Cancer? Biomarker or somatic testing is done on cancerous tissue taken from the prostate to provide information about how your prostate cancer might behave. Biomarker testing may also be called somatic testing, tumor testing, or genomic testing. It can be performed on both biopsy tissue and on tissue from an entire prostate following a prostatectomy. These tests look for mutations in genes that are relevant in cancer and that may drive cancer growth. Some of these biomarkers tell your doctors how aggressive your prostate cancer might be. Biomarker testing may help you and your doctor better understand your particular cancer and choose the best treatment option for you.
There are many different tumor biomarker tests available. Talk to your doctor about testing and which biomarker test might be right for you.
Learn more at zerocancer.org/biomarker-testing .
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