Prostate Cancer Biomarkers– A Bench to Bedside Perspective

Abstract

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most common non-cutaneous malignancy in men and is responsible for the second most common age-adjusted death rate due to cancer among men in the US, after lung cancer [1]. The prevalence of PCa increases with age with the chance of detecting PCa in an 80 year-old male being as high as 60% [2]. While PCa is generally considered a disease of "old age" with most men dying with and not from PCa, the mortality from PCa is still high, with estimated one PCa death globally every four minutes [3]. Clinically, there is an arsenal of tools for managing or treating PCa, including surgical removal of the prostate, radiation, hormone deprivation, ablative therapies, or active surveillance. Unfortunately, side effects and complications from treatment are not benign and depending on the treatment modality may include urinary incontinence, erectile dysfunction, hemorrhagic cystitis and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). Currently, Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) screening and Digital Rectal Exams (DRE) are most commonly used and widely available means of screening, and recommended by the American Urological Association (AUA) [4].

Determination of Prostate Specific Antigen Level among Male Patients with Bacterial Urinary Tract Infections Attending Kuje General Hospital Abuja, Nigeria

“…Obesity has been reported to reduce serum PSA levels, while increase has been found in prostate infection, irritation, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), and ejaculation. Limitations of PSA as a biomarker for monitoring response to therapy have been identified, as increase in serum level not correlating with tumour regression following radiotherapy has been reported in some instances (Karin, 2001) With contradictory opinions regarding who and when to screen for prostate cancer even in developed countries; or even after knowing who to screen, the choice of appropriate procedure that will be effective in terms of cost, access, level of sophistication and minimal piercing with yet reliable results is a bigger challenge to prostate cancer eradication strategy (Maurad et al, 2014)). Thus, the use of blood PSA test is used to identify candidates needing prostate biopsy.…”