Consensus statement on circulating biomarkers for advanced prostate cancer.

299Background: The need for validated circulating biomarkers is well recognised in advanced prostate cancer (PCa). Circulating biomarkers evaluating plasma cell-free nucleic acids and circulating tumour cells are being investigated for their clinical utility. There has been a lack of consensus with regards to analyses, reporting and clinical effectiveness of these biomarkers. A consensus meeting was held to address these issues. Methods: A multi-disciplinary panel comprising 18 international prostate cancer experts (including surgeons, medical and radiation oncologists) were consulted prior to the consensus meeting. Four key areas relating to the field of circulating biomarkers were deemed important for discussion: 1) The current utility of circulating biomarkers in 2017; 2) The clinical needs for circulating biomarkers in PCa; 3) The most pressing blood-based molecular assays required; and 4) The steps necessary for developing circulating biomarkers. Using a modified Delphi process, 50 consensus question...