Study finds PSA predicts cancer recurrence

BALTIMORE, Sep 13, 2005 (United Press International via COMTEX) -- A Baltimore study finds that PSA levels remain the best predictor of whether cancer will recur in men who have had prostate surgery.

Doctors at Johns Hopkins University tracked 2,312 men who had prostates removed there between 1992 and 2004. They found that for each 2-point increase in blood protein prostate-specific antigen before surgery the risk of a recurring cancer doubled.

Men with higher PSA levels also had larger and more aggressive cancers, the team found.

"As a screening tool, PSA has done what we wanted it to do," said Dr. Stephen Freedland, a professor of urology and one of the leaders of the study. "It detects advanced disease early and reduces the likelihood of metastatic disease."

The findings were published in the October issue of The Journal of Urology.