Prostate Cancer Health Center
PSA Test Has Shortcomings, Study Shows
March 10, 2008 -- The PSA test is no longer as useful as it once was as a screening tool for early prostate cancer in men who have normal prostate exams, a new study suggests.
Researchers conclude that changes in biopsy practices over the years have diminished the test's value in predicting prostate cancer.
PSA testing has been widely used for nearly two decades to screen for prostate cancer, and numerous studies have supported the use of the simple blood test as a predictive test for the cancer.
But most of this research on PSA screening was done in the early to mid 1990s, before major changes occurred in prostate biopsy practices.
Before this time, biopsies were rarely performed on men with PSA levels lower than 4, whereas today men with PSAs as low as 2.5 are biopsied. Changes in biopsy practices, including taking more core samples from the prostate, have also led to more cancers being found at earlier stages.
Suspecting that these changes might have changed the predictive value of PSA testing, researcher Douglas S. Scherr, MD, and colleagues from New York's Weill Medical College of Cornell University conducted a study designed to test the theory.
PSA, prostate-specific antigen, is given off by prostate cells. A rise in PSA could mean a prostate tumor is growing.
The problem is that not every man with a high PSA level has prostate cancer. And not every man with prostate cancer has a high PSA level.
"We've been finding at this institution and really nationally and internationally that even men with very low PSAs often have aggressive cancers and men with high PSAs don't have cancer at all," Scherr tells WebMD. "So it is clear that the predictive value of the PSA test is in question."
(If you or a loved one has gone through prostate cancer, what was your experience when going through screening? Share your thoughts with others on WebMD's Prostate Cancer: Support Group message board.)
del.icio.us
Indication
Uroxatral® (alfuzosin HCl 10 mg extended-release tablets) is an alpha1-blocker for the treatment of the signs and symptoms of BPH.
Important Safety Information
Do not take UROXATRAL if you have liver problems or if you are taking antifungal drugs like ketoconazole or itraconazole, or HIV drugs like ritonavir.
UROXATRAL can cause a sudden drop in blood pressure, especially when starting treatment. This may lead to fainting, dizziness, and lightheadedness. Do not drive, operate machinery, or do any dangerous activity until you know how UROXATRAL will affect you. This is especially important if you already have a problem with low blood pressure or take medicines to treat high blood pressure. There may be an increased risk of low blood pressure and fainting when taking UROXATRAL in combination with blood pressure medication or nitrates, or erectile dysfunction medication.
If considering cataract surgery (clouding of the eyes), tell your eye surgeon that you are currently taking UROXATRAL or have previously been treated with an alpha-blocker.
Before taking UROXATRAL, tell your doctor if you have kidney problems.
Also, tell your doctor if you or any family member(s) have or take medications for a rare heart condition known as congenital prolongation of the QT interval.
BPH and prostate cancer can cause the same symptoms. However, UROXATRAL is not a treatment for prostate cancer.
The most common side effects with UROXATRAL are dizziness, upper respiratory tract infection, headache, and tiredness.
Please see UROXATRAL full prescribing information.
A diagnosis of prostate cancer doesn’t mean an end to your sex-life thanks to an innovative procedure.
Lowering the Risk of Prostate Cancer
What To Expect from a Prostate Exam
