The primary results of the landmark SEPTA trial, with over 2,000 racially and ethnically diverse biopsied men recruited in the US and Canada, were presented by Professor Scott Eggener at the ASCO-GU (The American Society of Clinical Oncology – Genitourinary Cancer Symposium) conference in San Francisco on January 26. The study found that use of the blood-based biomarker Stockholm3 was more accurate and could avoid up to half of unnecessary biopsies compared to current clinical practice. The findings were similar across all racial and ethnic groups.
“Stockholm3 showed proof of non-inferior sensitivity while simultaneously having a dramatically improved specificity compared to PSA,” Dr. Eggener said in his presentation.
Stockholm3, which incorporates plasma proteins, a polygenetic risk score and clinical variables was developed by researchers at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden. More than 90,000 men have been included in clinical studies and the test is being used in clinical care in multiple European countries. The SEPTA trial was carried out at 17 US and Canadian sites and is the first prostate cancer trial where the majority are from historically underrepresented minorities. Out of 2,129 recruited men 1,160 were either Asian, Black or Hispanic.
Prostate cancer is the most common form of cancer in American men. In 2024, it is estimated that 300,000 men will be diagnosed with, and 35,000 will die from, prostate cancer in the United States (1). Early detection and reduced overdiagnosis are crucial for improved treatment outcomes, decreased mortality, and better use of healthcare resources.
“Stockholm3 could have a significant impact on risk stratification of prostate cancer in the diverse American population, while minimizing unnecessary diagnosis and treatment of indolent cancers and potentially redefine the current standard of care,” says David Rosén, CEO A3P Biomedical.
(1)Siegel RL, Giaquinto AN, Jemal A. Cancer statistics, 2024. CA Cancer J Clin. 2024 Jan-Feb; 74(1):12-49. doi: 10.3322/caac.21820. Epub 2024 Jan 17. PMID: 38230766.
Online link to SEPTA trial: https://meetings.asco.org/abstracts-presentations/230554
The American Society of Clinical Oncology – Genitourinary Cancer Symposium features the latest high-impact science, multidisciplinary expertise, and evidence-based practices in GU cancer care and took place from January 25-27, 2024, in San Francisco, USA.
Scott Eggener, MD
Professor of Surgery and Radiology, Vice Chair of Urology, Director High Risk and Advanced Prostate Cancer Clinic, University of Chicago
Dr. Scott Eggener is a urologic oncologist with extensive clinical and research expertise in prostate cancer and is co-director of the UChicago Medicine High-Risk and Advanced Prostate Cancer Clinic (UCHAP), a program that provides focused care for men at high risk for developing prostate cancer and those with advanced disease.
His research — which has resulted in over 300 publications — exclusively focuses on urologic cancers and primarily focuses on improving the screening, imaging and treatment of men with prostate cancer. Dr. Eggener has been an associate editor at four medical journals, is on the executive board of International Volunteers in Urology and has chaired or participated in multiple ASCO/AUA/NCCN cancer guideline panels.