New Blood Test May Make Prostate Cancer Screening More Reliable

Healthcare providers and men who have been wishing for a more accurate way to screen for prostate cancer may soon have a new tool at their disposal. A blood test under development functions very much like the standard prostate-specific antigen test, but with a higher degree of accuracy. Although still very much under clinical review, the test could pave the way for improved accuracy in diagnosis. This, in turn, could help spare men from undergoing risky biopsies.

Called the IsoPSA test, the blood test also screens for prostate-specific antigen much like the tool in use today. It goes a step beyond, however, to look for molecular changes in the PSA protein. In doing so, the test improves accuracy rates. A study involving a group of men who were scheduled for biopsy found that the IsoPSA test was more accurate at distinguishing cancer from other conditions that might create false positive results on a PSA. What’s more, the IsoPSA was also able to help doctors more readily determine which men were likely to have high-risk forms of prostate cancer.

While the IsoPSA must undergo more scrutiny before its application might be considered for widespread use, researchers say the findings so far are very encouraging. A replacement for or upgrade to the standard PSA is highly desirable given this test’s track record for false positives. The PSA fell out of favor with the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force due to its imperfections. The test looks for elevations in men’s PSA levels. Although a high PSA is strongly linked to prostate cancer, it may also be caused by benign conditions, such as age-related prostate enlargement. With no way to distinguish between the two through bloodwork alone, poor PSA results often prompted men to undergo biopsies. Considering the rate at which that occurred, the task force stopped recommending the PSA as a routine screen. It only recently eased its recommendations in regard to this test, now suggesting that men and their doctors consider it on a case-by-case basis.

For the time being, the PSA is deemed the gold standard for prostate screening. Although known to be problematic, the screen is still one of the most effective for helping men and their doctors detect prostate cancer in its earliest, most treatable stages. The IsoPSA may someday soon usurp its forerunner if clinical results remain strong. In the meantime, all men are urged to talk with their healthcare providers about their risks for prostate cancer and the potential need to screen for this condition. Early intervention can and does save lives.