We validated this finding by demonstrating an increased association of POLQ RNA abundance with BCR in two independent cohorts: (i) the NCCS cohort of 185 treatment-naïve prostate cancers treated with RT (Fig. 4C; Table 1; HR = 2.4; P = 0.06; CI, 0.96–5.71; ii) a cohort by Ross-Adams et al. with 93 patients treated with RP (Supplementary Fig. S6A; HR = 1.9; P = 0.06; CI, 0.93–3.70). Here, POLQ is linked to prostate carcinoma.