IsoPSA, a new blood test, predicts prostate cancer more accurately than PSA test

This blood test can cut the chances of biopsies by 50 percent says, researchers

By: Debjani Arora | | Published: May 18, 2017 1:11 pm

A PSA or test prostate-specific antigen test after 50 years of age is usually advised to men to check on the status of their prostate gland. An elevated level of PSA in the blood is seen as an indicator that signals onset of prostate cancer. However, screening for prostate cancer using PSA is controversial. In 2012, the U.S. Preventive Task Force recommended against it as a tool for preventive care. But PSA screening was never ruled out and the Task Force recommended that men aged 55 to 69 discuss with their doctor on the benefits of getting the screening. Here are eight symptoms of prostate cancer that every man should know. Also Read - Scientists accidentally discover new organ that has been hiding behind our nose till now

Also Read - MRI-targeted biopsy may detect more aggressive prostate cancer: Study

Limitations of the PSA test Also Read - Researchers designs home urine test for aggressive prostate cancer

Even though prostate cancer can be ascertained by a PSA marker, at times, it could be elevated due to a urine infection or other unknown causes like benign enlargement of the prostate. Even healthy men can have elevated PSA levels. However, a reading of 4 ng/ml can make your doctor suspicious. Studies have shown that PSA levels that range between 2.9 to 4 ng/ml indicate that the cancer is confined to the organ and have lower progression rate. Here are 10 symptoms of enlarged prostate everyone should know.

In most cases, a biopsy is suggested following a PSA test to check for cancerous cells and to confirm the diagnosis. PSA only acts as a marker for prostate cancer screening. Prostate biopsies are not easy and come with their own set of risk. In this kind of test, the doctor inserts a thin hollow needle in the rectum to collect samples of the prostate. This process could also lead to erectile dysfunction and urinary difficulties, as well as pain, blood in semen, and blood in urine. Other than PSA even an MRI can be done to check for prostate cancer.

A blood test that s more accurate

Researchers from the Cleveland Clinic have developed a new blood test called the IsoPSA that can cut down the need for biopsy by half. It works by identifying molecular changes in the PSA protein. When both the IsoPSA test and the PSA test were done on patients already scheduled for a biopsy, the researchers discovered that the IsoPSA test was both more precise at both identifying cancers from other conditions and picking out patients with high-risk disease.

That latter is important, the researchers say in a press release, because it helps doctors determine which patients can benefit from certain curative treatments, and which may have cancer that is unlikely to cause them any harm.

However, to confirm the new test s effectiveness clinically more testing needs to be done, but if it is validated, it may provide an easy, noninvasive way to ID aggressive prostate cancers and cut down on unnecessary biopsies and treatments.

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Published : May 18, 2017 1:11 pm

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