Abstract LB411: Prospective clinical validation of a blood cell-free mRNA based Geneverify test for screening and early detection of prostate cancer
Authors: Sudhir K. Rawal, Smreti Vasudevan, Samson Mani, Dharam P. Chauhan, Rajvir Dahiya
Journal: Cancer Research (2025)

Abstract Background: Existing screening methods, including prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing, radiological imaging, and pathological assessments, often fall short in enabling early detection of prostate cancer. Despite advancements, gene-based diagnostic tests tailored specifically for early prostate cancer detection remain limited. To address this gap, we evaluated the clinical utility and diagnostic accuracy of the plasma cell-free mRNA-based GeneVerify test. This cutting-edge approach offers the potential for faster and more precise diagnoses while avoiding the risks and complications associated with surgical biopsy procedures. Methods: Blood samples were prospectively collected from patients suspected of prostate cancer who presented with urinary symptoms, persistently elevated PSA levels (&amp;gt;4 ng/mL), and PIRADS 4-5 lesions. All patients were recommended for a transperineal biopsy. Plasma cell-free RNA was isolated and analyzed for 25 prostate cancer-specific genes using the GeneVerify real-time PCR kit (Hayward, USA). The log2 fold change in gene expression for each gene was calculated, and a genetic risk score (GeneVerify Dx) was assigned to each patient. The transperineal biopsy results served as the reference standard. The diagnostic performance of the test in distinguishing between benign and cancerous cases was assessed and ROC (receiver operating characteristic) curve was plotted. Results: We tested a total of 45 subjects, comprising 35 suspected prostate cancer cases and 10 healthy controls. The median age of the cases was 66 years (range: 45-85), while the controls had a median age of 41.5 years (range: 39-47). The genetic risk score effectively differentiated prostate cancer patients from benign cases. The Area Under the Curve (AUC) was 0.83 ± 0.07 (P = 0.002; 95% CI: 0.70-0.96), demonstrating the test's strong discriminatory ability. Using a risk score cut-off value of 10, the test achieved a sensitivity of 72% and a specificity of 90%. Additionally, patients with higher Gleason grades and those experiencing chronic inflammation exhibited elevated gene expression levels and higher risk scores compared to benign subjects. Conclusions: In summary, this prospective study is the first to validate a cell-free RNA-based GeneVerify test for real-time screening and early detection of prostate cancer. The test exhibits high precision in identifying early-stage prostate cancer, with strong concordance to biopsy results. Citation Format: Sudhir K. Rawal, Smreti Vasudevan, Samson Mani, Dharam P. Chauhan, Rajvir Dahiya. Prospective clinical validation of a blood cell-free mRNA based Geneverify test for screening and early detection of prostate cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2025; Part 2 (Late-Breaking, Clinical Trial, and Invited Abstracts); 2025 Apr 25-30; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2025;85(8_Suppl_2):Abstract nr LB411.