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Polaris Score

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Posted 4/26/2017 2:51 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Everyone

Hope you are all well smile I was just wondering about the Polaris score. My husbands Uro requested a polaris test on the biopsies prior to his surgery decision. He did not give us a copy of it but he did say that my husband was very luck and was in the low risk category. What has me wondering/confused is if the score was low risk, but he had EPE and PNI don't they contradict each other. I wish i knew the actual score to be more informative. His final pathology report also confirmed 50% of the prostate had cancer which also seems like a lot but maybe i'm wrong. To keep the margins neg the surgeon also said that he could not spare both nerves. Is there anyone that can explain the polaris to me and help me understand what i find confusing!
Posted 4/26/2017 3:44 PM (GMT 0)
Prolaris is a genomics assay that is used on biopsy slides to attempt to predict the aggressiveness of the cancer that was found. A similar test, OncotypeDX, was used in my case to verify that active surveillance was the right "treatment" for me.

At this point, referring to the Prolaris assay is like water under the bridge. The prostate is out, and all the tissue was there for further sampling.
Posted 4/26/2017 4:07 PM (GMT 0)
Hi ASAdvocate, thanks for the reply. I understand that its after the fact, it just got me thinking about the test and had me wondering was polaris was wrong?
Posted 4/26/2017 9:16 PM (GMT 0)
Prolaris indicates genetic risk. It measures the RNA associated with cell cycle progression of certain genes implicated in cancer progression. It is able to predict risk of cancer progression beyond what grade, stage and PSA can tell you. So, if you were looking for it to give more info about his stage, it was never meant to do that. It's use is only for guys who are on the fence considering active surveillance vs radical treatment.
Posted 4/27/2017 12:36 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks TA. Can I pick your brain again then please if you don't mind ;) Am I right in thinking If my husband had chosen AS as his treatment, Even though he has +epe (after the fact) his genes suggest it's a slow growing tumor so spreading beyond would have taken significant years?

Too curious for my own good but knowledge is power 😉
Posted 4/27/2017 3:38 AM (GMT 0)
You're right that a low Prolaris score predicts a more indolent tumor, generally. But like all risk factors, it predicts a general case but not a specific one. Prolaris doesn't replace the other risk factors - it's independent of them. You can have a high Prolaris score with no EPE or a low Prolaris score with EPE. I can't tell you anything about what would have happened.
Posted 4/27/2017 12:46 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks again TA, I get it now smile
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