FDA Approves New Blood Test for Prostate Cancer For Men With PSA Levels Just Above Normal Range

Perhaps this will add some additional definitive information on the PSA testing which has been in the news frequently for discussion as to whether it should be used for screening or not. This test appears to add some additional decision making information if any actions or treatments are needed/discussed. Last year at UCLA a new PSA testing format was developed called the A+PSA test so perhaps with both tests more decision making information can be obtained with fewer false positives. BD

A+PSA New Test For Prostate Cancer Is More Specific and Reduces False-Positives-Study at UCLA

A blood test for prostate cancer billed by its manufacturer as “an answer to the current PSA [prostate-specific antigen] testing controversy” has won FDA approval, the company said.

Beckman Coulter said Monday that the agency had okayed its premarket approval application for the so-called Prostate Health Index test, which incorporates measurement of a PSA precursor protein called [-2] pro-PSA along with total and free PSA.

According to the co-discoverer of [-2] pro-PSA, Kevin Slawin, MD, of Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center in Houston, the marker is more closely associated with prostate cancer than total and free PSA. Combining the three markers makes the Prostate Health Index more specific than conventional PSA testing.

http://www.medpagetoday.com/HematologyOncology/ProstateCancer/33486

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