Detecting Prostate Cancer: New PSA Test Goes Pro!

WASHINGTON, D.C (American Health Newswire) --The PSA test is the only available FDA approved screening method to identify prostate cancer in men. But, the test has been controversial for years because it's not always accurate - causing some men unnecessary biopsies and needless treatment. We'll tell you about a better, more accurate test for prostate cancer.

When Dan Zenka learned he had prostate cancer, his doctor let him know how serious the diagnosis was.

"He indicated that mine was a more aggressive form or appeared to be a more aggressive form of prostate cancer," Dan Zenka, Prostate cancer patient told American Health.

Dan knows a lot about prostate cancer, he's senior vice president of communications at the Prostate Cancer Foundation. He's well aware that one in six men will be diagnosed with the disease in their lifetime.

"I knew the chances were good that I might be hearing those very words someday myself," Zenka said.

The PSA test is the most common way to screen for prostate cancer. But the test can result in a high number of false positives and false negatives - causing unnecessary treatments and missed diagnoses. Now, urologists say that a new test, called the pro PSA test, better detects aggressive cancer and reduces false positives.

"The pro PSA test is more accurate than anything that is currently available," William Catalona, M.D., a urologist at Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine told American Health.

PSA or prostate specific antigen is found in the blood. High levels of PSA could indicate prostate cancer. The new test measures a more specific form of PSA in the blood.

"That specifically is a better marker for prostate cancer than the other forms of PSA that have been previously developed," Dr. Catalona said.

The new test measures blood levels of three different types of PSAs. Combined with annual biopsies, or tissue samples, it was about 70 percent accurate in singling out the aggressive tumor. The pro PSA level is turning out to be a more valuable predictor for prostate cancer.

"It can give you a more accurate estimate of whether or not he has prostate cancer, and whether or not the prostate cancer is one of those that would be potentially life threatening," Dr. Catalona added.

The test could mean less unnecessary and painful biopsies, while letting doctors focus more on aggressive forms of the disease. Dan is focusing on his treatment with the help of others.

"There's a great deal of comfort in speaking with other patients understanding that you're not alone," Zenka explained.

Coming together to fight against the disease.

The test is currently being used in clinical trials and is awaiting approval by the U.S Food and Drug Administration. It is already approved for use inEurope. Researchers say the new test will focus on the detection of more life-threatening prostate cancers and reduce unnecessary biopsies in men 50 years of age and older.

A Melanoma Milestone

The melanoma had spread to her lymph nodes, breasts, liver, and bones.

"After the initial shock of my diagnosis, it made me realize I want to do this different," Karen said.

She's already lost her father, sister and step-dad to other forms of cancer, but Karen's determined to beat it. She enrolled in a clinical trial with the help of lead investigator, doctor Walter Urba.

"Ipilimumab for Karen was a godsend. It was incredibly important to her survival," Walter Urba, M.D., Ph.D., a director of the Cancer Research Earle A. Chiles Research Institute at Providence Cancer Center, explained.

Ipilimumab or "Ippy" works by stimulating the patient's own immune system to kill tumors. It's the first FDA approved drug for melanoma in more than a decade.

"It allows t-cells to grow, multiply, produce molecules that go on and kill melanoma cells wherever they live throughout the body," Dr. Urba said.

With Ippy , the median survival rate is improved by four months.

"Which may sound like a little unless you're one of the individuals that's affected by the disease," Dr. Urba said.

Others though have gained years, like Karen...

"It gave me three years, almost three years,  that I would not have had if I hadn't been on it," Karen said.

While Ippy has given Karen more precious time with her daughter, the melanoma has come back.

"This is going to be a long road for me, and it's going to be like a marathon not a sprint," Karen said.

A race she's grateful to still be in. "Ippy" is marketed under the name Yervoy. It represents a new class of drug known as targeted t-cell therapy.  It's also being looked at to help treat prostate, breast, lymphoma and lung cancers.

The American Health Foundation will celebrate its 13th Annual "Senior Achievement" Awards
Luncheon on Friday, November 11, 2011 (11.11.11.) at Benevenuto's Restaurant, in Boynton
Beach, Florida.  The event honors five outstanding volunteers/staff whose service to the community inspires, enriches and contributes to the "good" of many.  All of our past honorees represent a wide spectrum of volunteer and staff effects including mentoring the children, wildlife and environment, health and medical care and everything in between.