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How Genetic Factors May Impact Prostate Cancer Risk And Treatment

Dr. Heather Cheng and Dr. Channing J. Paller

We know that prostate cancer may be written in some men’s genes, but so are instructions for discovering new treatments and understanding family risk. If we want to better understand prostate cancer, we must better understand genes. That’s why the genetic information of prostate cancer patients is so important. This information is the next step in our collective fight against the disease. 

The PROMISE registry seeks to learn more about the role genes can play in improving outcomes and/or treatments for prostate cancer patients. This registry will help us understand how prostate cancer care can be tailored precisely based on a patient’s unique genetic profile. This means better information, testing, and choices. 

The PROMISE registry will enable us to examine how information about genetic profiles can:

  • Influence the susceptibility of men to prostate cancer
  • Impact the effectiveness of existing treatments
  • Improve guidance for different and/or new treatment options
  • Suggest precise areas to explore for new discoveries. 

How PROMISE works

Black male and wife sit in sterile doctors office receiving news

PROMISE is completely free. Patients continue with their current provider and don’t even need to leave home to participate. Patients register online. They receive a simple home-based saliva sample DNA test kit. The kit will screen for one of 30 cancer risk genes. Patients will receive results and will be provided access to a licensed genetic counselor to help them understand the findings. Stringent measures are in place to ensure safety, privacy, and security.

Benefits of joining the PROMISE study 

Prostate cancer patients who join PROMISE will:  

  • Receive free genetic testing and counseling; gain valuable information about genetic factors in cancer; and discover if they have a critical gene mutation that may impact their care plan. 
  • Receive the most current information about new research, clinical trial opportunities, and treatments approved by the FDA. 
  • Help family members understand their own risk of cancer and risk for future generations. 
  • Make an important contribution to advancing research and understanding of prostate cancer by providing essential genetic information and long-term outcomes that are not available anywhere else. 

Learn more

To learn more about the Promise Prostate Cancer study visit ProstateCancerPromise.org, pcctcpromise@mskcc.org, or call 646-449-3363. With your help we can win the fight against prostate cancer.

Contributors

Dr. Channing Paller Headshot
Dr. Channing Paller

Dr. Paller is associate professor of Oncology and Urology at Johns Hopkins University, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center and associate director for Oncology of the Johns Hopkins Clinical Research Network. She is a clinician scientist focused on translating basic scientific findings into treatments that will improve clinical outcomes and reduce toxicities for men with prostate cancer. Dr. Paller is a lead investigator of the PROMISE study and, as an expert in clinical trial design, she leads multiple clinical trials of innovative new treatments and treatment combinations employing germline and somatic biomarkers. She earned her M.D. at Harvard Medical School and completed her medical residency and fellowship in Medical Oncology at Johns Hopkins.

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