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New Test for Early Detection of Prostate Cancer

By Ira Smolin  

A new blood test is under study by Robert Getzenberg, Ph.D. at the James B. Brady Urological Institute at Johns Hopkins. It is called early prostate cancer antigen or EPCA. When it is used in conjunction with PSA screening it may reduce the number of unnecessary biopsies and undetected prostate tumors.

 

The EPCA test is specific for prostate cancer meaning that other cancers are not detected. This enhances a doctor’s confidence that a positive EPCA test is really a sign of prostate cancer. The two step screening done today continues to be the primary early detection method. This procedure can miss some cancers. There are as many as 15% of patients with a low PSA that do have the cancer. With the addition of this promising additional test, the cancer detection can be much improved.

 

The study was conducted with 46 patients of whom 12 had prostate cancer, 6 had bladder cancer, 2 had colon cancer and 16 were healthy. Researchers found that 11 of the 12 prostate cancer patients had high EPSA (92%) and low in all of the healthy individuals. The test was found to be correct 94% of the time.

 

There are more clinical trials under way to refine the EPAC test. The more sensitive the test can be made can result in its detecting the smallest traces of the marker. Dr Getzenberg sees this test as important in detecting prostate cancer and avoids the false positives results that occur with the PSA test.

 

 Once this test is refined and approved for general use, it will have an impact on the detection and treatment of prostate cancer” said Dr. Getzenberg. The study appears in the May 15, 2005 issue of Cancer Research.

 

last reviewed May 2005

EPCA test
Vaccine
Xinlay

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