New test may help distinguish aggressive prostate cancer

January 6, 9:55 PMHealth ExaminerAngela Spears

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Professor Jack Schalken led team that developed PCA3

 

PCA3 is a non-invasive simple urine test  to help in biopsy decisions - in combination with Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) - in the diagnosis of prostate cancer. According to the National Cancer Institute prostate cancer is the most common cancer, excluding skin cancer, and the second leading cause of cancer-related death in men in the United States. African American men have higher incidence and at least double the mortality rates compared with men of other racial and ethnic groups.

This new diagnostic tool; the PCA3 Test (Prostate Cancer Gene 3) may help distinguish between benign and aggressive prostate cancers. The number of prostate cancer cases is increasing rapidly, and not all tumors require surgery. However, the question remains: how to accurately determine which tumor is aggressive and which is not?

The answer may be found in the PCA3, a breakthrough test which diagnoses prostate cancer. The genetic test was developed in Europe by a team headed by Professor Jack Schalken.

Currently PCA3 is available in Europe and is the first gene-based diagnostic test in this field. It is an efficient tool to help decide if a prostate biopsy is really needed to diagnose prostate cancer in men suspected of having the condition. PCA3, unlike PSA, is prostate cancer specific. This means it detects the gene produced by prostate cancer cells and not affected by prostate size. The test is also able to differentiate between prostate cancer and benign/non-cancerous prostate diseases such as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH, i.e. prostate enlargement) or prostatitis (infection of the prostate).

Risk factors:

• Age; men above the age of 50 have an increased risk of prostate cancer
• Family history; if a close relative had prostate cancer your risk may be higher
• Ethnicity; among African-American men prostate cancer is more common than in Caucasian or Asian men
• Diet; you may increase your risk if you have a diet high in animal fat and low in fruit, vegetables and fish 
  
   

In addition, there are a number of warning signs that may indicate a prostate disease. Do consult your physician/urologist if you develop any of the following:

• Difficulty or pain in passing urine
• Frequent trips to the bathroom, especially at night
• Having to rush to the toilet to pass urine
• Blood in the urine or semen
• Impotence

There is consensus among physicians that men over 50 should consider having an annual check-up.