Comparison of Three Assays for Total and Free PSA Using Hybritech and WHO Calibrations.

Background/aim: Lack of interchangeability between prostate-specific antigen (PSA) assays could have a clinical impact. We compared PSA assays from different manufacturers and calibrations.

Patients And Methods: A total of 233 men who underwent prostate biopsy (PSA: 2-10 ng/ml; Beckman Coulter Access Hybritech as reference) were enrolled.

Tumour markers in prostate cancer: The post-prostate-specific antigen era.

Although prostate-specific antigen-based prostate cancer screening had a positive impact in reducing prostate cancer mortality, it also led to overdiagnosis, overtreatment and a significant number of unnecessary biopsies. In the post-prostate-specific antigen era, new biomarkers have emerged that can complement the information given by prostate-specific antigen, towards a better cancer diagnostic specificity, and also allowing a better estimate of the aggressiveness of the disease and its clinical outcome. That means those markers have the potential to assist the clinician in the decision-making processes, such as whether or not to perform a biopsy, and to make the best treatment choice among the new therapeutic options available, including active surveillance in lower risk disease.

The Percentage of [-2]Pro-Prostate-Specific Antigen and the Prostate Health Index Outperform Prostate-Specific Antigen and the Percentage of Free Prostate-Specific Antigen in the Detection of Clinically Significant Prostate Cancer and Can Be Used as Reflex Tests.

Context.—: There is a need to avoid the overdiagnosis of prostate cancer (PCa) and to find more specific biomarkers.

Objective.

The prostate health index and the percentage of [-2]proPSA maintain their diagnostic performance when calculated with total and free PSA from different manufacturers.

Objectives: To evaluate the diagnostic performance of the prostate health index (PHI) and of the percentage of [-2]proPSA (%[-2]proPSA) calculated with total and free PSA from non-Beckman Coulter manufacturers (Roche and Abbott), and compare it with the fully Beckman Coulter [-2]proPSA derivatives.

Methods: In this study, 237 men (PSA: 2-10 μg/L) scheduled for prostate biopsy were enrolled. %[-2]proPSA and PHI were calculated with total and free PSA from three manufacturers.

Relevance of Circulating Nucleosomes, HMGB1 and sRAGE for Prostate Cancer Diagnosis.

Background/aim: Evasion from cell death occurs in prostate cancer (PCa). We verified whether serum levels of cell death markers can have diagnostic value in PCa.

Patients And Methods: A total of 233 men scheduled for prostate biopsy [prostate specific antigen (PSA) level: 2-10 ng/ml] were enrolled.

The prostate health index (PHI) density: Are there advantages over PHI or over the prostate-specific antigen density?

Background And Aims: Overdiagnosis of prostate cancer (PCa) should be minimized. We wanted to evaluate the diagnostic performance of the prostate health index density (PHID) and compare it with that of the prostate health index (PHI) alone and of the prostate-specific antigen density (PSAD).

Materials And Methods: 232 men scheduled for a prostate biopsy (prostate-specific antigen level: 2-10 µg/L), were enrolled.

Are Proinflammatory Cytokines Relevant for the Diagnosis of Prostate Cancer?

Background/aim: Inflammation plays an important role in prostate cancer (PCa). We evaluated proinflammatory cytokines regarding differential diagnosis of PCa in men with PSA levels between 2-10 ng/ml.

Patients And Methods: Serum samples of 79 men (PSA 2-10 ng/ml) were analyzed for 10 proinflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-10, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-12p70, IL-13) and results were evaluated regarding presence of PCa and disease severity.

Serum lipids and prostate cancer.

Background: Conflicting results are found in the literature relating serum lipids levels and prostate cancer. Some results imply a relationship between them; others contradict this association. The purpose of this study was to investigate a possible association between serum lipids levels and prostate cancer, at time of diagnosis.