Prostate Cancer Test Developments to Improve Prediction of Disease Course

Prostate cancer is a slow growing cancerous tumor. It puts forth symptoms at a fairly advanced stage. However if people undertake yearly medical checkups such as a prostate cancer test, (which they are supposed to do after 40) the chances of early stage detection of the same are bright.

John Hopkins Oncology Scientists and researchers have established that the measuring of the chemical process associated with the genetic change triggered by the prostate cancer leads to the detection of early state prostate cancer. Early stage detection ensures complete cure. American Cancer Society however supports routine testing for cancer for only people above 50.

U.S and U.K scientists are developing a test for prostate cancer using a sample of prostate fluid taken through a needle inserted under local anesthetic and takes less than three minutes to complete. This will be a boon to the patients, health officials and Doctors. A Prasanna de Silva, chair of the organic chemistry at Queen’s University Belfast, U.K said that the new test was: “ A convenient and quick method which provides early warning of prostate cancer which will bring relief to many men”.

Prostate specific Antigen (PSA) test as prostate cancer test is used throughout the world; it is a protein secreted by Prostate gland and higher than normal values indicate the presence of cancer forming cells. The PSA test is the way a Physician measures the amount of PSA that is present in the patient’s blood. This test is done along with digital rectum examination (DRE) enabling the Physician to actually measure the size of the prostate gland.

Maryland-based Pharmaceuticals Scientist have found that a protein – an enzyme called HAAH might prove to be a biomarker, which is more sensitive and specific than current methods of early detection of prostate cancer. This biomarker test may identify prostate cancer at an earlier stage. Always early detection of prostate cancer ensures complete cure of the cancer. This is very useful to prevent prostate cancer recurrence.

Through a simple DNA test, which identifies risk genes, the scientists at the Swedish medical University Karolinska Institutet hope that the men carrying a known combination of risk genes run 4 to 5 times higher risk of prostate cancer. Even the cases where the partial cure sets in, they say that the risk of prostate cancer recurrence is there.

In the nanoparticle prostate cancer test, golden nanoparticles are first mixed in a solution. Nanoparticles are coaxed to attach themselves to cancer producing proteins. When the patient’s drop of blood is dropped in the nano solution, they seek out the protein. If the protein is present, then the golden nanoparticles cluster around it. If there is no cluster formation, the inference is no cancer formation is to be expected

Is being obese, an obstruction for an accurate Prostate cancer test? Texas University Health Science Center in San Antonio, came to the conclusion that in obese men, the sensitivity of PSA testing is being blunted. Doctors believe that obese men produce more estrogen, which drives down testosterone levels and could affect cells that produce antigen in the test.