Premium
Free and total prostate‐specific antigen in a screened population
Author(s) -
BANGMA C.H.,
KRANSE R.,
BLIJENBERG B.G.,
SCHRÖDER F.H.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
british journal of urology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.773
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1464-410X
pISSN - 0007-1331
DOI - 10.1046/j.1464-410x.1997.00130.x
Subject(s) - medicine , prostate specific antigen , prostate , rectal examination , urology , transrectal ultrasonography , prostate biopsy , antigen , population , biopsy , gynecology , gastroenterology , cancer , immunology , environmental health
Objectives To determine whether the ratio of free to total (F/T) prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) can differentiate between men with prostate carcinoma or benign conditions in a screened population. Subjects and methods Total and free serum PSA (measured using Delfia PSA assays, Abbott IMx and Hybritech Tandem E methods) were determined retrospectively in 1726 men aged 55–77 years, in whom 67 prostate carcinomas were detected by screening with a digital rectal examination, transrectal ultrasonography, and total serum PSA level. Predictors for a positive biopsy result were estimated as a function of total PSA, free PSA and the combination of both. Results There was an excellent correlation between the Delfia ProStatus, the Abbott IMx and the Hybritech Tandem E assays. Compared with the total serum PSA level, the F/T ratio improved the specificity significantly only in those men with a total PSA of ≥7 ng/mL. Using the information given by the total and free PSA values, a maximum sensitivity of 75% at a specificity of 74% was obtained for the whole PSA range from 4 to 10 ng/mL; the maximum sensitivity was 79% with a specificity of 71%. Conclusion The optimal mathematical combination of free and total serum PSA improves the specificity of total serum PSA level in detecting prostate carcinoma more than the does the F/T PSA ratio.