alex revision
April 21st, 2010, 12:14 PM
New test to detect prostate cancers
Wed, 21 Apr 2010 11:36:27 GMT
http://www.presstv.com/detail.aspx?id=123962§ionid=3510210
A newly-developed test can identify men with slow-growing prostate tumors who might not benefit from immediate treatment, a new study finds.
Previous studies had pointed out the deficiencies in the commonly used prostate-specific androgen (PSA), stressing that the test is not capable of differentiating slow growing cancers from the aggressive life-threatening tumors in need of immediate surgery or radiation therapy.
According to the study presented at the annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research in Washington DC, the combination of Prostate Health Index and annual biopsies is accurate enough to detect 70 percent of aggressive tumors.
"What we have shown is that using the Prostate Health Index and tissue DNA measurement is informative in separating out patients whose cancers are likely to progress vs. those that are not likely to progress," said lead researcher Robert W. Veltri.
The new test measures blood levels of three different types of PSA, including pro-PSA, the most valuable predictor of the severity of a prostate tumor.
Scientists believe the new test would not only reduce the rate of unnecessary treatment in men suffering from low-grade cancers but also prevent impotence and other complications commonly reported following such treatments.
The new test, performed twice a year in association with a digital rectal exam and a yearly biopsy, is already approved for use in Europe and Catalona but awaiting US FDA approval.
Wed, 21 Apr 2010 11:36:27 GMT
http://www.presstv.com/detail.aspx?id=123962§ionid=3510210
A newly-developed test can identify men with slow-growing prostate tumors who might not benefit from immediate treatment, a new study finds.
Previous studies had pointed out the deficiencies in the commonly used prostate-specific androgen (PSA), stressing that the test is not capable of differentiating slow growing cancers from the aggressive life-threatening tumors in need of immediate surgery or radiation therapy.
According to the study presented at the annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research in Washington DC, the combination of Prostate Health Index and annual biopsies is accurate enough to detect 70 percent of aggressive tumors.
"What we have shown is that using the Prostate Health Index and tissue DNA measurement is informative in separating out patients whose cancers are likely to progress vs. those that are not likely to progress," said lead researcher Robert W. Veltri.
The new test measures blood levels of three different types of PSA, including pro-PSA, the most valuable predictor of the severity of a prostate tumor.
Scientists believe the new test would not only reduce the rate of unnecessary treatment in men suffering from low-grade cancers but also prevent impotence and other complications commonly reported following such treatments.
The new test, performed twice a year in association with a digital rectal exam and a yearly biopsy, is already approved for use in Europe and Catalona but awaiting US FDA approval.