University of Michigan researchers have developed a simple urine test that screens for the presence of 4 different RNA molecules ; this serves as an accurate test for prostate cancer. They have published this in the journal Cancer Research .

Until now, the serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) has been the standard test for the cancer, but it has its deficiencies. The new test can identify 80% of prostate cancer patients; it ruled out cancer in 61% of patients in other studies who didn't have cancer. This is quite an improvement over the PSA , and even over the PCA3 test (PCA3 is a single genetic marker found in the urine). The 4 biomarkers used in the test are identified as: GOLPH2, SPINK1, PCA3, and TMPRSS:ERG. Seems to me you have to be very alphabetically literate to follow along this line of research. I welcome the results, though, and hope for speedy availability of the test.

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HealthandAge Blog