March 1, 2000 – Using prostate specific antigen (PSA) as a marker for prostate cancer is not a very accurate test: 15% of men with prostate cancer will have normal PSA levels and out of 100 men with abnormal PSA levels, only 35% will get cancer. In short, the only way to know exactly if a man has prostate cancer is to do a biopsy (tissue analysis).
However, things could change soon as a new test named uPM3 (Urinary Prostate Score) can detect the presence of prostate cancer cells in the urine. The test can easily be performed in a hospital laboratory. According to Dr. Yves Fradet, of the company DiagnoCure, the uPM3 test would reduce the number of biopsies required to establish a diagnosis.
An initial clinical study has shown that the test detects cancer cells in 80% of patients diagnosed with prostate cancer and who continue to have normal PSA levels; on the other hand, it can diagnose 67% of cases of prostate cancer in people with benign prostatic hypertrophy. The uPM3 test must undergo a more exhaustive clinical study before it is marketed.
Prostate cancer potentially affects 1 in 10 men. In North America, 200,000 new cases are detected each year and a quarter of them will result in death.
HealthPassport.net
According to Medical News, February 16, 2000
Diagnocure company website: http://www.diagnocure.com/
