Researchers analyzed data from two large groups of people in Norway to look at prostate cancer risk. The first group had 14,688 participants, and the second had 2,850. A smaller subset of 503 people had their whole genomes sequenced. The team used a genetic test called PHS601 to sort participants into risk groups. They compared these results to a test that looks for rare gene changes in the HOXB13 gene.
The study found that men in the highest risk group had a much higher chance of developing prostate cancer. In the first group, the risk was 5.74 times higher than the lowest risk group. In the second group, the risk was 7.79 times higher. When looking at aggressive forms of the disease, the risk was still significantly elevated in the top groups.
In the smaller group with full genome sequencing, men in the top 1.8 percent of scores had an 8.8-fold higher risk compared to the median. Men with rare HOXB13 gene changes also showed a 3.77 times higher risk. The study did not report any safety concerns or side effects. This research supports using genetic tests to help identify who might need closer monitoring for prostate cancer.