Early prostate cancer antigen-2

Early prostate cancer antigen-2

Early prostate cancer antigen-2 (EPCA-2) is a protein of which blood levels are elevated in prostate cancer. It appears to provide more accuracy in identifying early prostate cancer than the standard prostate cancer marker, PSA.

"EPCA-2" is not the name of a gene. EPCA-2 gets its name because it is the second prostate cancer marker identified by the research team.cite web |url=http://www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com/alerts/prostate_disorders/JohnsHopkinsProstateDisordersHealthAlert_1023-1.html |title=Johns Hopkins: Prostate Disorders on new EPCA-2 prostate cancer test |format= |work= |accessdate=] This earlier marker was previously known as "EPCA",cite journal |author=Paul B, Dhir R, Landsittel D, Hitchens MR, Getzenberg RH |title=Detection of prostate cancer with a blood-based assay for early prostate cancer antigen |journal=Cancer Res. |volume=65 |issue=10 |pages=4097–100 |year=2005 |month=May |pmid=15899799 |doi=10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-04-4523 |url=http://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/cgi/pmidlookup?view=long&pmid=15899799] cite journal |author=Dhir R, Vietmeier B, Arlotti J, "et al" |title=Early identification of individuals with prostate cancer in negative biopsies |journal=J. Urol. |volume=171 |issue=4 |pages=1419–23 |year=2004 |month=April |pmid=15017188 |doi=10.1097/01.ju.0000116545.94813.27 |url=http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0022-5347(05)62310-5] but is now called "EPCA-1".

EPCA-2 versus PSA

The steady decrease in prostate cancer mortality is indirect evidence that the early detection using serum PSA and rectal examination saves lives. However using serum PSA in screening for prostate cancer remains controversial, because of its low specificity.

Leman and colleagues describe, in the April 2007 issue of Urology, the performance characteristic of EPCA-2, a novel nuclear protein marker for prostate cancer cells. [cite journal |author=Leman ES, Cannon GW, Trock BJ, "et al" |title=EPCA-2: a highly specific serum marker for prostate cancer |journal=Urology |volume=69 |issue=4 |pages=714–20 |year=2007 |month=April |pmid=17445657 |doi=10.1016/j.urology.2007.01.097 |url=http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0090-4295(07)00172-0]

A study was initiated which suggested that the EPCA-2 protein serum assay exhibits favorable performance characteristics which are potentially superior to serum PSA. However more studies are necessary to see if this test will retain its sensitivity when used in a screening population.

References

External links

* [http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/76847.php Medical Today - EPCA-2: A Highly Specific Serum Marker For Prostate Cancer]
* [http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2006/08/jhu_prostate_test.html consumeraffairs.com - Hopkins Researchers Find Better Blood Test for Prostate Cancer]


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