PCA3 Test May Help Distinguish Aggressive Prostate Cancer

Main Category: Prostate / Prostate Cancer
Also Included In: Urology / Nephrology;  Cancer / Oncology
Article Date: 28 Oct 2008 - 2:00 PDT

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The number of prostate cancer cases is increasing rapidly. Fortunately not all these tumours need to be operated - some are slow growing or indolent.

The question remains: how do we reliably establish which tumour is aggressive and which is not?

The answer may well be given by the PCA3 (Prostate Cancer Gene 3) test, a breakthrough in the diagnosis of prostate cancer. The genetic test was developed in the laboratory of the Radboud University in Nijmegen (NL) by a team headed by Professor Jack Schalken.

PCA3 is a new tool available in a simple urine test to help make better biopsy decisions - in combination with Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) - in the diagnosis of prostate cancer. It is available as the PROGENSA(TM) PCA3 assay in Europe and is the first gene-based diagnostic test in this field. It is an efficient tool to help decide if prostate biopsy is really needed to diagnose prostate cancer in men suspected of having the condition. PCA3 is, unlike PSA, prostate cancer specific. This means that the gene is only produced by prostate cancer cells and is not affected by prostate size. It discriminates better than PSA between prostate cancer and benign/non-cancerous prostate diseases such as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH, i.e. prostate enlargement) or prostatitis (infection of the prostate). Therefore, PCA3 gives very useful information in deciding if a biopsy is really needed.

The European Association of Urology (EAU) now offers an interesting interview with Professor Schalken about the potential of the test on one of its websites, http://www.urologyweek.org. Please click here ( http://www.urologyweek.org/interview_professor_schalken_pca3.html) to read the full article. You are free to translate its content for your publication; please mention the source.

European Association of Urology