Study shows PSA can predict survival in prostate cancer

Reported by Susan Aldridge, PhD, medical journalist

A man's prostate specific antigen level after hormone therapy can predict survival time in advanced prostate cancer.
The prostate specific antigen (PSA) test is widely used to screen for early prostate cancer and to monitor treatment. Doubts have been raised as to its value, but a new study from doctors at the University of Michigan shows its applicability in advanced prostate cancer. A group of 1,345 men were treated with hormone therapy for seven months, with PSA levels being monitored throughout.

Those whose PSA dropped below 4.0 nanograms per mL had a quarter the risk of dying compared to those whose PSA was higher than this. The researchers suggest that the findings might help clinicians detect those patients unlikely to benefit from hormone treatment long before they develop signs of treatment resistance. In the study, 69 per cent of men had PSA levels of less than 4.0 and 43 per cent had undetectable levels. Those whose PSA levels were more than 4.0 survived 13 months and those whose levels were between 0.2 and 4.0 lived for 44 months. Those whose PSA levels were undetectable lived for 75 months. Clearly PSA monitoring has value in this context - helping show which patients are responding to treatment with hormone therapy.

Source
Journal of Clinical Oncology 20th August 2006

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