Articles filed under 'PROSTATE HEALTH'
A new test for prostate cancer, believed to be much more accurate than the PSA test, is expected to be approved soon. The test, currently undergoing large-scale clinical trials, measures the blood protein EPCA-2. Not only can it detect prostate cancer more effectively than measurement of prostate specific antigens (PSA), it also can determine the aggressiveness of the cancer and whether it has already spread.
In recent studies of 385 men, those with elevated EPCA-2 test results were found to have cancer 94% of the time, compared with 19% of those showing elevated PSA results. Only 3% showed false positive results and about 6% of existing cancers were missed using the new EPCA-2 blood protein markers. These results compare more favorably than the PSA test, which misses about 15% of existing cancers and gives a high level of false positives.
Every year, about 1.6 million men have unnecessary biopsies because of elevated PSA scores, whereas only about 230,000 of them actually are shown to have cancer. The digital rectal exam (DRE) is also not definitive in detecting this common cancer of men.
Prostate cancer is diagnosed in 230,000 new cases annually, and about 27,000 men die of the disease. The current PSA and DRE detection procedures are also deficient in that they cannot distinguish between cancer’s aggressive form, which is frequently fatal, and a slow-growing variety where “watchful waiting” may be the best strategy.
The new test could revolutionize the treatment of prostate cancer. It could save many lives and spare men with the slow-growing form of cancer from having unnecessary treatments in the future. Its manufacturer Onconome Inc., a Seattle Biomedical company, is developing the EPCA-2 test and expects the FDA to approve it by early next year.
Source: San Francisco Chronicle; Sunday, April 26, 2007; reporter Susan Brink of the Los Angeles Times
May 10th, 2007
A recent finding by scientists of a gene associated with prostate cancer may help doctors decide which patients are best suited to receive aggressive therapy. DeCode Genetics in Iceland made the discovery that may help explain why African Americans, who more commonly have this gene, may have higher rates of prostate cancer than some other populations.
The variant gene was discovered in men in Iceland, Sweden, and in two populations in the U.S. The gene variant, carried by about 13% of men of European ancestry, raises the risk of getting prostate cancer by 60%, compared with a 13% risk in those who did not carry it. Men with this recently found gene were discovered to make up about 8% of all cases of prostate cancer.
The variant in African-American men is twice as common as in men of other ancestry. For this reason, prostate cancer may be more prevalent and have a higher mortality rate in black males in the U.S. than in white males. Early detection and aggressive treatment could lead to better outcomes for black males.
According to Dr. Kari Stefansson, DeCode’s chief executive, this was the first major gene in prostate cancer found in widespread populations.
Source: Oakland Tribune, reprinted from New York Times writer Nicholas Wade’s article; May 8, 2006
Additional Resources:
What You Need to Know About Prostate Cancer
May 12th, 2006
Saw Palmetto, a popular herbal pill used by millions of American men for symptoms of prostate enlargement, was found to be ineffective in a year-long research study involving 225 men over age 49.
More than 2 million American men and many in Europe take the herb in an effort to ease their urinary symptoms — the frequent urge to go to the bathroom. In this new study, saw palmetto was no more effective than placebo pills (fake capsules). Findings were published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) in early February.
As men age, many develop benign (noncancerous) enlargement of the prostate, a walnut-sized gland that surrounds the urethra. The men recruited for this most recent study had moderate to severe symptoms. One group took 160 miligrams of saw palmetto twice a day.
Men in the second group swallowed a similar-looking, tasting and smelling dummy capsule. Participants in both groups filled out a symptoms survey and had urine flow measured. After a year, no significant difference was detected between the two groups, in symptom changes or other measurements.
An earlier, shorter study found that some men seemed to benefit from taking Saw Palmetto. Until this new research is confirmed by more studies, lead researcher Dr. Stephen Bent of San Francisco’s VA Medical Center advises that men who take the herb and feel it is helpful should probably keep using it.
Source: San Francisco Chronicle (2/9/06) www.sfgate/chronicle.com
Further Research:
What You Need to Know About Prostate Cancer
March 27th, 2006