A Novel Application of Decipher Testing in HoLEP Specimens for Risk Stratification of Incidentally Detected Prostate Cancer - 21/10/25

Doi : 10.1016/j.urology.2025.09.047

Nicole Handa ^a,^⁎ , Harsha Kaul ^a, Clayton Neill ^a, James A. Proudfoot ^b, Ridwan Alam ^a, Mitchell M. Huang ^a, Elai Davicioni ^b, Edward M. Schaeffer ^a, Amy E. Krambeck ^a, Ashley E. Ross ^a
^a Department of Urology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL
^b Veracyte Inc, San Diego, CA

^⁎Address correspondence to: Nicole Handa, M.D., Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 676 N. St. Clair St., Suite 2300, Chicago, IL 60611.Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University676 N. St. Clair St., Suite 2300ChicagoIL60611

Sous presse. Épreuves corrigées par l'auteur. Disponible en ligne depuis le Tuesday 21 October 2025

ABSTRACT

Objective

To assess the feasibility of Decipher testing for prostate cancer incidentally identified on specimens from holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP). Additionally, we sought to review Decipher GRID expression signatures in cancers identified on HoLEP compared to those identified on prostate biopsy.

Methods

We identified patients who had prostate cancer on HoLEP at our institution from August 2021 to July 2024 and subsequently underwent Decipher testing. Quality assurance testing was performed and transcriptomic signature expression patterns between HoLEP specimens and Grade Group (GG)-matched biopsy specimens were compared using standard mean differences (SMD).

Results

Of the 38 HoLEP specimens that underwent Decipher testing, 2 (5.3%) failed quality assurance testing due to lack of sufficient tumor present in the sample. Compared to GG-matched biopsy specimens (N=58,500), the HoLEP group (N=36) had similar median Decipher scores (0.56 vs 0.45, SMD 0.33) and lower median PSA (3.1 vs 6.2). HoLEP specimens were enriched for lower androgen receptor activity (SMD 0.63), basal subtypes by both PAM50 (SMD 1.23) and PSC (SMD 1.09), and ERG negative status (SMD 0.86). HoLEP specimens also had higher expression of activated CD4 (SMD 1.06), tertiary lymphoid structure (SMD 1.40), and angiogenesis (SMD 1.27).

Conclusion

Decipher testing for HoLEP specimens is feasible, although clinical utility remains unclear. Compared to biopsy specimens, HoLEP specimens have increased immune and angiogenesis-related signature expression and lower AR-A expression suggesting that these tumors have unique microenvironments.

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