Panacea Laboratories
207 Perry Parkway
Suite #2
Gaithersburg, MD 20877
T: 240-404-9045
F: 240-465-0450

Prostate Cancer Screening

Prostate cancer is the most prevalent form of cancer in men as well as the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in men. The American Cancer Society (ACS) and the American Urologic Association (AUA) recommend annual screening of men beginning at 50 years of age with annual measurements of serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) and digital rectal exams (DRE). For some men at unusually high risk because of race and family history, they recommend screening beginning at 45 years of age. The ACS and AUA advise that a biopsy be performed on all men, in these age groups, who have a PSA value which is > 4 ng/ml, regardless of findings on rectal exam, and on all men with a DRE suggestive of prostate cancer. Urologists and oncologists also point out that prostate cancer is fairly common in men with PSA values < 4ng/ml and that these men are often not diagnosed early enough to get optimal treatment. It is important to recognize, that only 25% of men who have a PSA value between 4-10ng/ml, with a negative rectal exam, actually have prostate cancer and that only 50% of men with a PSA value of > 10ng/ml actually have prostate cancer. Thus, many men with PSA values > 4ng/ml undergo uncomfortable, expensive, and potentially complicated biopsies which do not reveal cancer. It is also important to recognize that almost 24% of men with a PSA value in the range of 2.1-3.0 ng/ml and 27% of men with a PSA value in the range of 3.1-4.0 ng/ml will be diagnosed with prostate cancer (Thompson et al, The New England Journal of Medicine, May 27, 2004). PC Detect® was developed in order to improve the early accurate diagnosis of prostate cancer. It is a sensitive and specific test to complement current screening methods and to provide information about the probability of prostate cancer in men with PSA values < 4 ng/ml.

PC Detect®

PC Detect® is a laboratory test for prostate cancer screening. It works by measuring serum levels of Human Aspartyl (Asparaginyl) β-Hydroxylase (HAAH). PC Detect® is recommended for men who have an elevated PSA value or a suspicious DRE. PC Detect® may be especially useful in detecting prostate cancer in men with a PSA value of < 4.0 ng/ml. Men with prostate cancer have serum HAAH levels which are three-fold higher compared to those of cancer-free controls.

HAAH Serum Concentrations in Prostate Cancer

PC Detect® provides information to differentiate prostate cancer from benign conditions and to help guide patient management. Low levels of HAAH as seen in normal individuals, suggest a lower risk of cancer and that a patient may be spared an unnecessary biopsy.

Only a physician can order PC Detect®. The results from PC Detect® should be interpreted by the physician in conjunction with knowledge of the patient's PSA value, results of his DRE, and his medical and family history. Prostate biopsy is necessary for a definitive diagnosis of cancer.