UCLA Journal of Radiation Oncology SUMMER 2024 - Flipbook - Page 52
UCLA RADIATION ONCOLOGY JOURNAL
contribute to more equitable health outcomes.
METHOD
The researchers leveraged the large next-generation sequencing dataset from the Veterans Affairs
National Precision Oncology Program to analyze affected genes and alteration frequencies identified
in prostate tumors from 5015 veterans with metastatic prostate cancer who self-identified their race/
ethnicity as non-Hispanic Black (1784) and non-Hispanic white (3231). The investigators used the data to
evaluate the spectrum and frequency of genetic mutations associated with race/ethnicity and whether
or not these mutations were linked to how long the patients lived after their cancer diagnosis.
IMPACT
This study represents an important step forward in understanding the landscape of genomic alterations
in metastatic prostate cancer, which is especially important for men of African ancestry, who have
historically suffered from poor representation in precision oncology studies. This study also teases out
the potential impact of genomic alterations on prostate cancer survival outcomes among U.S. veterans
and highlights a critical need for personalized approaches to improve prostate cancer treatment.
“Overall, this study really reinforces the importance of precision medicine initiatives for men
with advanced prostate cancer,” said Valle, who is also a member of the UCLA Health Jonsson
Comprehensive Cancer Center and staff physician at the Greater Los Angeles VA Healthcare System. “By
integrating tumor genomic information into patient selection for metastatic prostate cancer treatments
or clinical trials, healthcare providers can strive to improve treatment outcomes for all patients,
irrespective of race or ethnicity.”
AUTHORS
The abstract’s co-senior authors are Dr. Kara Maxwell, who is affiliated with the Perelman School
of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and the Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Department of
Veterans Affairs Medical Center; Dr. Kosj Yamoah, who is affiliated with the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer
Center and the James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital; and Dr. Isla Garraway, Professor of Urology, Director
of Research at David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. Other UCLA authors include Dr. Matthew
Rettig and Dr. Nicholas Nickols. Garraway, Rettig, and Nickols are part of the VA Greater Los Angeles
Healthcare System and members of the UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center.
UCLA Radition Oncology's Dr. Luca Valle presented these findings at the 2024 Annual American
Society of Clinical Oncology meeting.
Contributed by: Denise Heady
Denise Heady is a science communications and media relations manager at UCLA Health. She covers the clinical cancer program along
with basic and clinical translational research for the UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center.
52