New Test for Prostate Cancer May Be More Precise

A new test that measures the expression of the prostate-cancer-specific gene PCA3 may be able to detect prostate cancer much more precisely than current diagnostics.

Up to 80% of patients with an elevated prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level may have a negative prostate biopsy. New data suggest that the PCA3 test can predict whether a second biopsy is needed, which could potentially spare many patients the uncomfortable experience of a second procedure.

The PCA3 test, from Gen-Probe Inc. (San Diego, California, USA), is based on the PCA3 gene of DiagnoCure Inc. (Quebec, Canada). Gen-Probe is currently conducting studies to validate the clinical utility of the test in patients at seven European institutions. Meanwhile, four molecular pathology laboratories in Europe are in the process of setting up the assay for the reporting of clinical results.

In 2003, DiagnoCure granted an exclusive worldwide license for the use of the PCA3 technology in prostate cancer diagnosis to Gen-Probe. Tests based on the PCA3 gene, believed to be the most accurate indicator of prostate cancer, are currently available in analyte-specific reagent format (ASR) in the United States.

The PCA3 test has received the CE Mark in Europe and was formally launched at the November 2006 meeting of the British Association of Urologic Surgeons (BAUS) in the United Kingdom.





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Gen-Probe
DiagnoCure