Not available here in the US yet, but this is a genomic based test that is cancer specific. Nobody likes having a biopsy done by any means and this appears to be working in that direction, in other words more information available to perhaps avoid biopsies that are perhaps not required. BD
PCA3 is a new tool available in a simple urine test to help make better biopsy decisions - in combination with Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) - in the diagnosis of prostate cancer. It is available as the PROGENSA(TM) PCA3 assay in Europe and is the first gene-based diagnostic test in this field. It is an efficient tool to help decide if prostate biopsy is really needed to diagnose prostate cancer in men suspected of having the condition. PCA3 is, unlike PSA, prostate cancer specific. This means that the gene is only produced by prostate cancer cells and is not affected by prostate size. It discriminates better than PSA between prostate cancer and benign/non-cancerous prostate diseases such as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH, i.e. prostate enlargement) or prostatitis (infection of the prostate). Therefore, PCA3 gives very useful information in deciding if a biopsy is really needed. The European Association of Urology (EAU) now offers an interesting interview with Professor Schalken about the potential of the test on one of its websites, http://www.urologyweek.org. ( http://www.urologyweek.org/interview_professor_schalken_pca3.html) to read the full article. You are free to translate its content for your publication; please mention the source.
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