Abstract
Prostate cancer is one of the leading causes of death in men. Although the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test has significantly improved the detection of prostate cancer, its low specificity results in a high number of false positive and subsequently in unnecessary prostate biopsies. The PCA3, discovered in 1999, is a non-coding RNA that is overexpressed in prostate cancer. Quantitative analysis of PCA3 mRNA in urine was found to be a good predictor of the outcome of prostate biopsies. The test, based on transcription-mediated amplification (TMA) on urine collected after a digital rectal examination, has high specificity and is particularly useful in patients with a previous negative biopsy. Recently, some studies have suggested that PCA3 may also have a prognostic value and could be utilized in the initial decision for biopsy.
| Translated title of the contribution | Molecular bases and clinical applications of prostate cancer antigen 3 (PCA3) determination |
|---|---|
| Original language | Italian |
| Pages (from-to) | 356-362 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | Biochimica Clinica |
| Volume | 35 |
| Issue number | 5 |
| Publication status | Published - Oct 2011 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Clinical Biochemistry
- Biochemistry, medical
- Medical Laboratory Technology