Routine Tests Cuts Risk of Metastatic Prostate Cancer

The prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test substantially reduces the risk of cancer of the prostate spreading to other parts of the body.

Routine PSA testing is controversial, but some scientists believe that it helps improve the quality of life of men diagnosed with prostate cancer and also saves lives, and gives men a chance at having a full and healthy life after treatment.

In a study, carried out at the Cleveland Clinic, (OH, USA), scientists reviewed data from over 1,700 prostate cancer patients who were treated at Cleveland Clinic with either radiation therapy or surgery to remove the prostate gland and surrounding tissues. To assess the impact of screening, the patients were divided into two groups according to when they were treated: a prescreening era (1986-1992) or a postscreening era (1993-1996). Patients were classified as having high, intermediate, or low-risk disease to determine which groups may have benefited from prostate cancer screening.

During a 10-year period, the cancer spread in 13% of the patients, and scientists found those who were diagnosed with a PSA test were significantly less likely to have their prostate cancer spread after their original treatment. Patients treated before routine PSA screening was advocated had a 10-year metastases-free survival of 74% versus 91% for those treated after routine PSA screening was advocated. For men in the high-risk group, the chance of being disease-free at 10 years was 82% for men in the postscreening era versus 58% for men in the prescreening era.

Chandana Reddy, M.S., a senior biostatistician at the Cleveland Clinic, said, "The study shows that routine screening not only improves the patient's quality of life by stopping metastatic disease, but it also decreases the burden of care for this advanced disease that must be provided by the healthcare system. This study demonstrates that the PSA test is extremely valuable in catching the disease earlier and allowing men to live more productive lives after treatment." The results of the study were presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology held in San Diego (CA, USA), from October 31 to November 4, 2010.

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