New method to detect prostate cancer

Scientists at the University of Michigan School of Medicine have announced a new urine test that can help detect prostate cancer, thereby choosing better therapies.

Dr Scott Tomlins, who led the study, said the current PSA (blood test for cancer) tests could help detect prostate cancer. However, this type of test is not highly reliable.

People with low PSA can get cancer and people with high PSA do not have cancer. A new urine specimen that looks for two genetic markers associated with cancer, TMPRSS2: ERG and PCA3, will yield more reliable results because TMPRSS2: ERG is only found in cancer cases.

To do this, Tomlins and his colleagues studied urine samples from 1312 men with high PSA levels and had prostate or prostate-specific surgeries.

New urine test can help detect prostate cancer

The scientists tested urine for two TMPRSS2: ERG and PCA3, and then used these to divide the men into three groups at low risk for prostate cancer. and high. Then, the scientists compared the results with the results of the test. Based on test results, prostate cancer was found in 21% of men in the low-risk group, 43% in the middle-risk group, and 69% in the high-risk group.

Experts also said the results of these urine tests correlate with the size of the tumor and the risk of cancer. In the low-risk group, only 7% had acute cancer, while the high-risk group was 40%.

Dr Tomlins, however, cautioned not to rely solely on this test to bypass the biopsy test because there are still cases of cancer but no two TMPRSS2: ERG and PCA3 gene indices. In addition, new research is being conducted primarily for white patients, so further research is needed.