Genetically adjusted PSA screening to better find aggressive prostate cancer
Precision Prostate Cancer Screening with Genetically Adjusted Prostate-Specific Antigen Levels
This project tests whether using a man's genetic profile to adjust PSA blood test results can better detect aggressive prostate cancer and reduce unnecessary biopsies.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Stanford University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stanford, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11307143 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you participate, researchers will use DNA and PSA blood test results to understand how inherited genetic differences change PSA levels that are not caused by cancer. They will adjust individual PSA values using genetic information and refine a prostate cancer polygenic risk score to better highlight risk for aggressive disease. The team will compare these genetically adjusted PSA results and revised risk scores to conventional screening to see which approach better identifies cancers that need treatment. The work uses existing patient data and genetic samples and may include follow-up to show how the updated tests perform in real-world screening.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are men undergoing PSA screening—especially those with elevated PSA or a family history of prostate cancer—who are willing to provide a blood sample for genetic testing.
Not a fit: Men who decline genetic testing, those already diagnosed and treated for prostate cancer, or people with medical conditions that make PSA results unreliable may not benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help men avoid unnecessary biopsies and focus care on those with aggressive prostate cancer.
How similar studies have performed: Previous work from this team and others shows genetic factors influence PSA and that removing PSA-linked variants can improve risk scores, but applying genetically adjusted PSA in routine screening is still relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Stanford, United States
- Stanford University — Stanford, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Witte, John S. — Stanford University
- Study coordinator: Witte, John S.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.