PCA3 test may predict prostate cancer occurring in the future

A recent study has added more weight to the usefulness of the urine test PCA3 in the diagnosis of prostate cancer. It has also shown that the test may be predictive of a positive biopsy in the future.
These new results arise from the large REDUCE trial looking at the effect of the drug dutasteride on the incidence of prostate cancer. 8,121 men were randomised to placebo or the active drug.
Foe subjects with a negative biopsy at 2 years the PSA and PCA3 tests were correlated with the biopsy result at year 4. Only the PCA3 test was predictive of a subsequent cancer diagnosis with a 1.4% risk if the test was less than 5 to a 35.7% risk at scores greater than 100.
Aubin et al. J Urol nov 2010, 184: 1947-52

Posted by: Richard Brough | November 15, 2010
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