Genetic testing and PARP inhibitors in prostate cancer

COR2ED Medical Education: Joanne Chien, Nurse Practitioner specialising in urologic cancers at Stanford Health Care in Palo Alto, California, and Dr Alexander Wyatt, Assistant Professor in genitourinary cancer genomics at the Vancouver Prostate Centre, Department of Urologic Sciences at the University of British Columbia, discuss ‘Genetic testing and PARP inhibitors in prostate cancer’ as part of the GU NURSES CONNECT podcast series covering ‘PARP inhibitors in prostate cancer’.

In this podcast, the experts discuss the gene alterations in prostate cancer and why we should consider genetic testing when thinking about treatment options such as PARP inhibitors (PARPi’s). The discussion covers why genetic testing should be performed, who should undergo testing, how to test and what this means in relation to treatment with PARP inhibitors. Dr. Alex Wyatt explains the difference between germline and somatic mutations and Joanne Chien discusses the role of the nurse during genetic counselling discussions and how this role may evolve in the future. Finally, the ongoing trials of PARP inhibitors in combination with other prostate cancer treatments are also considered and whether the outcome of these trials is likely to impact the need to perform genetic testing.