Novel Biomarkers – Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers in men, but standard PSA testing can be limited by its inability to clearly distinguish between prostate cancer and benign conditions such as benign prostate enlargement. Novel forms of the PSA protein — pro-PSA, 2proPSA, and Nicked PSA — may help improve diagnostic accuracy and reduce unnecessary biopsies.
Pro-PSA
Pro-prostate specific antigen (pro-PSA) is an inactive precursor of the PSA protein. While total PSA levels can be elevated in both cancerous and non-cancerous prostate conditions, pro-PSA has shown stronger associations with prostate cancer. Higher levels of pro-PSA in the blood may indicate a greater likelihood of prostate cancer being present, especially when interpreted alongside total PSA and clinical risk factors such as age and family history.
Research suggests pro-PSA could play a key role in stratifying patients at risk of prostate cancer and improve decision-making around further investigations or biopsy.
2proPSA
2proPSA is a specific form of the pro-PSA protein that is particularly relevant for prostate cancer detection. It is a truncated, inactive molecule that accumulates in cancerous regions of the prostate and is found at higher levels in the tissue and blood of men with prostate cancer.
Studies have shown that 2proPSA can help differentiate between prostate cancer and benign conditions more effectively than total PSA alone. It may be especially useful when combined with other PSA derivatives in risk-scoring models such as the Prostate Health Index (PHI).
Nicked PSA
Nicked PSA, also referred to as benign PSA, is an inactive form of the PSA protein commonly associated with benign prostate enlargement rather than cancer. It results from structural changes to the PSA protein that impair its activity.
Unlike pro-PSA and 2proPSA, elevated levels of nicked PSA are more commonly found in men with non-cancerous prostate conditions, making it a potentially useful marker to help rule out prostate cancer and avoid unnecessary procedures.
Biochip Array Technology
Randox have demonstrated novel serum combination of 4 biomarkers significantly improved the predictive potential of tPSA alone to identify patients with prostate cancer.
Randox biochip technology further enables precise measurement of single PSA variants, providing valuable insights that could help distinguish between prostate cancer and benign conditions.
– Pro-PSA
– 2proPSA
-Nicked PSA
-EGF
-MCP-1
-IL-8
-tPSA
The Evidence MultiSTAT
Meet the Evidence MultiSTAT
The Evidence MultiSTAT is an easy to use, small footprint analyser facilitating on-site simultaneous detection of multiple biomarkers.
Using chemiluminescence as a measurement principle, the Evidence MultiSTAT consistently delivers accurate results.
With minimal sample preparation required, this versatile benchtop analyser can achieve accurate, quantitative results in minutes.
Meet the Cartridge
The Evidence MultiSTAT cartridge contains the reagents required for the chemiluminescent reaction to take place incorporated into its wells.
The process from sample entry to results can be completed in 2 simple steps, with minimal risk of human error.
No other components are required.
References
Canto, E. I. (2004). Serum BPSA outperforms both total PSA and free PSA as a predictor of prostatic enlargement in men without prostate cancer. Urology, 905-911.
Catalona, W. J. (1998). Use of the percentage of free prostate-specific antigen to enhance differentiation of prostate cancer from benign prostatic disease: a prospective multicenter clinical trial. JAMA, 1542-1547.
Filella, X. &. (2013). Evaluation of [-2] proPSA and Prostate Health Index (phi) for the detection of prostate cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, 729-739.
Guazzoni, G. N. (2011). Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) isoform p2PSA significantly improves the prediction of prostate cancer at initial extended prostate biopsies in patients with total PSA between 2 and 10ng/ml: results of a prospective study in a clinical setting. European Urology, 214-222.
Heidegger, I. K. (2014). [-2]proPSA is an early marker for prostate cancer aggressiveness. Prostate Cancer and Prostatic Diseases, 70-74.
Hori, S. B. (2013). From prostate-specific antigen (PSA) to precursor PSA (proPSA) isoforms: a review of the emerging role of proPSAs in the detection and management of early prostate cancer. BJU International, 717-728.
Jansen, F. H. (2010). Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) isoform p2PSA in combintation with total and free PSA improves diagnostic accuracy in prostate cancer detection. European Urology, 921-927.
Marks, L. S. (2001). BPSA is a Potential Serum Marker for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH). Retrieved from Urological Sciences Research Foundation: https://www.usrf.org/AUA2001_BPSA_SerumMarker.html
Mikolajczyk, S. D. (2000). “BPSA”, a specific molecular form of free prostate-specific antigen, is found predominantly in the transition zone of patients with nodular benign prostatic hyperplasia. Urology, 41-45.
Mikolajczyk, S. D. (2000). A precursor form of prostate-specific antigen is more highly elevated in prostate cancer compared with benign transition zone prostate tissue. Cancer Research, 756-759.
Shariat SF, C. E. (2004). Beyond prostate-specific antigen: new serologic biomarkers for improved diagnosis and management of prostate cancer. Reviews in Urology, 58-72.
Sokoll, L. J. (2010). A prospective, multicenter National Cancer Institute Early Detection Resarch Network study of [-2]proPSA: improving prostate cancer detection and correlating with cancer aggressiveness. Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, 1193-1200.