New Tests for Predicting and Diagnosing Prostate Cancer

At the 2009 Genitourinary Cancers Symposium in Orlando, Florida, researchers presented two recent studies involving new ways to predict and diagnose prostate cancer. One of the studies proposed that a urine test that could identify both the TMPRSS2 and ERG genes may help predict which men are at greater risk of prostate cancer. The researchers noted that this gene fusion is present in about 50 percent of all prostate cancer cases, so doctors would be able to provide more extensive screenings for men with those two genes. For the study, researchers tested the urine of 556 men for the gene fusion and found that the test had a “specificity” of 84 percent. Current prostate cancer screening methods include digital rectal exams and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) readings, which has a specificity of 27 percent.

The second study presented at the Symposium incorporated multiple factors, including PSA readings, prostate size, a previous negative biopsy and family history of prostate cancer. Researchers used these factors to create a chart that would help them predict a man’s risk of prostate cancer. For this study, researchers included 5,176 men, analyzing these factors and screening these men four years after their charts were created. They found that men with PSA levels of 1.5 nanograms/milliliter were seven times as likely to develop prostate cancer when compared to men with lower levels of PSA. The combination of these factors would allow doctors to recommend additional testing for men at higher risk of developing prostate cancer and determine the frequency of future screenings for men at lower risk. Still, some experts believe that much more research needs to be done on these methods before they will be used by doctors to predict or diagnose prostate cancer. Cancer treatment is most effective when the cancer is caught early on. If you or someone you love has been harmed by a delay in diagnosing or treatment of cancer, our cancer malpractice attorneys can help. Your initial consultation is FREE and there is NO FEE to you unless we recover money. Please call Silberstein, Awad & Miklos, P.C. today, or submit an instant inquiry now and we will respond within 24 hours. Our experienced attorneys serve clients with Bronx cancer malpractice, Brooklyn cancer malpractice, Queens cancer malpractice, Nassau cancer malpractice and Suffolk cancer malpractice cases.

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