By Joyce Kryszak
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wbfo/local-wbfo-826702.mp3
Buffalo, NY – Roswell Park Cancer Institute researchers Wednesday were scurrying to clarify early results of a 17-year prostate cancer trial that showed no survival benefit from PSA's.
A National Cancer Institute study released Thursday found that PSA tests led to more diagnosis, but not fewer deaths among American men. The findings conflict with a similar European study that found annual screenings reduced deaths by about twenty percent. Explaining the disparity is Doctor James Mohler, Chair of Urologic Oncology at Roswell Park. He said the results of the American study reflect only 11-years of follow-up. And Mohler said that is too soon to see the benefits.
"This study hasn't had enough follow-up yet to determine whether the prostate cancers detected by PSA and are being treated and actually saving lives," said Mohler. "We will know that in another ten years."
Further complicating the study, Mohler said it's hard for American researchers to maintain a true control group for the duration of the trial.
"In this country it's become difficult over the last 17 years to ask men in the control group not to have a PSA or digital rectal exam. More than half of them have had one in the last year," said Mohler.
There is controversy over the recommendation for annual PSAs because abnormal tests do not always result in malignancy.
But, according to Mohler, until there are more conclusive study results men should continue to have annual prostate cancer screenings as a valuable tool for early detection.
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