A main limitation of early prostate cancer (PCa) detection due to elevated PSA levels is caused by the low specificity of PSA, which is associated with a high proportion of men detected with nonmalignant findings at first or subsequent prostate biopsy (PBX).
Multivariate prediction models, such as nomograms, have been developed, providing a more accurate method to prospectively determine the risk of a positive PBX. Combining established clinical risk factors with novel diagnostic markers of PCa appears promising to further improve predictive accuracy estimates. Ideally, these nomograms should be capable of identifying PCa at PBX without missing men with high-grade PCa, and preventing a significant proportion of men without, or with insignificant, PCa from undergoing PBX. The intention is to reduce disease morbidity and mortality by detecting significant PCa at an early stage, and at the same time to avoid overdiagnosis as well as overintervention.
Written by:
Schmid M, Hansen J, Rink M, Fisch M, Chun F. Are you the author?
Department of Urology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany.
Reference: Biomark Med. 2013 Dec;7(6):843-50.
doi: 10.2217/bmm.13.114
PubMed Abstract
PMID: 24266817
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