Circulating tumor cells in peripheral blood samples from patients with increased serum prostate specific antigen: initial results in early prostate cancer.

Purpose: We evaluated the hypothesis that circulating tumor cells as determined using the CellSearch System would correlate with tumor volume, pathological stage and Gleason score in men with localized prostate cancer.

Materials And Methods: Samples of blood (30 ml) were drawn from 97 men with localized prostate cancer before radical prostatectomy, on postoperative days 2 to 3 and at 6 weeks. A control group consisted of 25 men with an increased prostate specific antigen and no tumor detected on extended prostate biopsy.

PCA3 molecular urine assay correlates with prostate cancer tumor volume: implication in selecting candidates for active surveillance.

Purpose: Prostate cancer gene 3 (PCA3) has shown promise as a molecular marker in prostate cancer detection. We assessed the association of urinary PCA3 score with prostatectomy tumor volume and other clinical and pathological features.

Materials And Methods: Urine specimens were collected after digital rectal examination from 59 men scheduled for prostate biopsy and 83 men scheduled for radical prostatectomy.

Natural history of biochemical progression after radical prostatectomy based on length of a positive margin.

Objectives: To assess the effect of length of positive margin on prognosis in men after radical prostatectomy.

Methods: The positive surgical margin without either seminal vesicle invasion or lymph node metastases was identified in 117 men undergoing prostatectomy between 1991 and 1999. The length of positive margin was obtained by adding together the lengths of all areas of the tumor in contact with the inked surface.

Is there a role for serum human tissue kallikrein in detection of prostate cancer?

Objectives: To retrospectively evaluate the diagnostic performance of a serum human tissue kallikrein 11 (hK11) assay to predict the presence of prostate cancer in a screened population of men with a total prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level between 2.5 and 10.0 ng/mL.

Evaluation of precursor prostate-specific antigen isoform ratios in the detection of prostate cancer.

Objective: Disease-associated isoforms of the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) have recently been identified. We evaluated the efficacy of using precursor isoforms of PSA (pPSA) and their ratios for the detection of prostate cancer.

Methods: Serum concentrations of [-2], [-4], and [-7]pPSA, BPSA, and free PSA (fPSA) were retrospectively measured in 43 selected men.

Volume-based evaluation of serum assays for new prostate-specific antigen isoforms in the detection of prostate cancer.

Objectives: Recently, disease-specific isoforms of the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) have been identified. We evaluated the efficacy of precursor isoforms of PSA (pPSA) and an internally cleaved form of PSA referred to as the benign prostatic hyperplasia-associated PSA (BPSA) for the detection of prostate cancer.

Methods: Serum concentrations of [-2], [-4], and [-7]pPSA, sum pPSA ([-2] + [-4] + [-7]pPSA), and BPSA were retrospectively measured in 43 selected men.

Cancer worry is associated with abnormal prostate-specific antigen levels in men participating in a community screening program.

An accumulating body of research suggests that psychological factors can affect physiological parameters. We assessed the association between the perceived risk of prostate cancer, prostate cancer-specific worry, and cancer-related symptoms and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels or the findings from digital rectal examination (DRE) in a large sample of men undergoing a free prostate cancer screening. Participants (n = 1635) completed a background questionnaire and a questionnaire that assessed their prostate cancer history, screening behavior, perceived risk of prostate cancer, and prostate cancer worry.

Outcome of patients with Gleason score 8 or higher prostate cancer following radical prostatectomy alone.

Purpose: We determine the effect of clinical and pathological variables on the outcome of patients with prostate cancer of Gleason scores 8 or greater treated with radical prostatectomy alone.

Materials And Methods: Between April 1987 and October 1998, 1,199 patients underwent radical retropubic prostatectomy. We identified 188 patients assigned a Gleason score of 8 or higher in the prostatectomy specimen who did not receive any neoadjuvant or adjuvant therapy.