Overview
New therapies have transformed treatment options for men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) and specific homologous recombination repair gene mutations, including BRCA mutations (BRCAm). However, to access these novel treatments, patients first need genetic testing to identify these mutations.
This study used real-world data on 6,761 patients to assess how often men with mCRPC received BRCA genetic testing. Researchers found that just over half (51%) underwent BRCA testing during the study period. While testing rates improved over time—rising from 37% in 2018 to 57% in 2023—progress plateaued around 55% from 2020-2024. Importantly, the study revealed significant disparities: older patients, those of Hispanic backgrounds, those with poor health status, and those diagnosed before 2020 were significantly less likely to be BRCA tested.
Why this matters
Nearly half of mCRPC patients remained untested, potentially missing access to targeted therapies that could extend survival. These findings highlight critical gaps in equitable cancer care and underscore the urgent need to improve BRCA testing access and awareness across all oncology practices to ensure all eligible patients benefit from personalized medicine.