Most Common Cancer in UK Men has Chance for Earlier Detection

As consciousness of prostate cancer was heightened throughout March, during the annual Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, Roche in the UK launched its enhanced portfolio of tumour markers for the early detection of prostate cancer, giving health professionals across the UK access to simple and effective tools to help in the detection of prostate cancer, and for monitoring response to treatment.

The prostate cancer test from Roche, available for use by healthcare professionals, consists of two sensitive and specific assays for Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) – the Elecsys® Total PSA assay and the
Elecsys® Free PSA assay. PSA measurement is currently considered to be the best method for identifying risk of localised prostate cancer. This marker may lead to the detection of cancer at an early stage, before symptoms develop, when the cancer could be cured or treatment could extend life.

PSA is a substance produced by the prostate that helps in the mobility of sperm. A rise in PSA levels above the ‘normal’ range (PSA levels increase with age) may indicate infection, enlargement (benign prostatic hyperplasia), or cancer of the prostate. PSA measurement should be used in conjunction with DRE (Digital Rectal Examination), using age specific reference ranges. The additional measurement of percentage Free PSA helps to further differentiate between cancerous and non-cancerous conditions when total PSA is in the range of 4 to 10ng/mL and DRE is negative2. PSA measurements and DRE help to identify patients that may require further investigation. Used in combination, the Roche Elecys prostate-specific markers can give a valuable indication of the possible presence of prostate cancer in the early stages of the disease or when symptoms are not apparent.

Ian Parfrement, Director, Hospital In vitro Diagnostics at Roche, said “Although there is currently no population screening for prostate cancer, there is considerable demand for the PSA test amongst men worried about the disease and therefore this is a good opportunity to raise awareness of these enhanced markers.’