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Science & Technology
New catalyst that improves the sensitivity of the standard PSA test over 100-fold
2015-09-18
Say you've been diagnosed with prostate cancer, the second-leading cause of cancer death in men. You opt for surgery to remove your prostate. Three months later, a prostate surface antigen (PSA) test shows no prostate cells in your body. Everyone rejoices.

Until 18 months later, when another PSA test reveals that now prostate cells have reappeared. What happened?

The first PSA test yielded what's known as a false negative result. It did not detect the handful of cells that remained after surgery and later multiplied. Now a chemist at Michigan Technological University has made a discovery that could, among other things, slash the numbers of false negatives in PSA tests.
Good new for all us guys over fifty.
Posted by:Sven the pelter

#3  Yes, the false positive result is MUCH more common (like twenty times higher) and causes all kinds of additional testing, spending, and possible harm as JohnQC describes.

However, there is no additional money to be made from negative results, so eliminating false positives isn't going to get any research money from industry.
Posted by: rammer   2015-09-18 14:54  

#2  A better PSA test would be a good thing. More, less invasive treatment options would also be a good thing. As of now, radiation (there are different kinds of radiation delivery methods), chemo, surgery, hormone therapy, watchful waiting, and cryosurgery are the major methods of dealing with PC. A recent development called Provenge (autologous cellular immunotherapy) is available and might provide some benefit. It gives your immune system a boost to fight off the cancer.

PC is often confused with another condition called benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH)--enlargement of the prostate that comes with age. Another concern about biopsies is that the procedure might break the prostate capsule and actually spread cancer cells to other parts of the body. Generally 12 needle samples are taken in the area between your penis and your rectum. A somewhat painful procedure. I asked my urologist if this was going to be painful; he said "It has never hurt me." I found a new urologist.

The PSA test and digital rectal exam are the first line of defense against PC. These generally indicate whether a biopsy is indicated. The good news is that if PC is caught early, the 5 year survival rate is high with surgery or radiation (>95%+). The 10 year survival rate is slightly less.

September is Prostate Cancer survival month.
Posted by: JohnQC   2015-09-18 08:14  

#1  What about false positives? PSA is notoriously inaccurate, and end up with painful surgery to do the biopsy whcih turns out was negative to begin with.

Plus PSA levels can be raised by urinary tract infections, or recent irritation of the prostate, by a foley catheter during surgery for example.

Posted by: OldSpook   2015-09-18 01:21  

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