PCA3: Predictive performance superior to PSA, fPSA

Other studies presented at the meeting examined PCA3's ability to discrminate between significant and insignificant cancer and the methodology for urine specimen collection.

In a prospective, multicenter study, James B. Amberson, MD, and colleagues investigated the performance of PCA3, free PSA, and PSA as single variables and in combination for predicting the outcome of biopsy (12 to 14 cores) in 463 men referred because of an elevated PSA or abnormal DRE. All but three men (99%) had valid PCA3 assay results, and the cohort had a positive biopsy rate of 44%.

"These analyses suggest there is significant potential to combine PCA3 and free PSA with other risk factors to develop a nomogram that will better predict biopsy outcome," said Dr. Amberson, a uropathologist in Stratford, CT, who serves as medical director of Dianon Systems, Inc., Shelton, CT.