Blood test accurately predicts death from prostate cancer up to 25 years in advance

有三篇相關的報導：

1.

ScienceDaily (2010-09-14) -- A blood test at the age of 60 can accurately predict the risk that a man will die from prostate cancer within the next 25 years, according to researchers. The findings could have important implications for determining which men should be screened after the age of 60 and which may not benefit substantially from continued prostate cancer screening.

60歲時的血液測驗可以準確預知未來25年內因前列腺而死的風險。

[arthur's note] 雖說這是在預防醫學上也許有用，但單這個描述似乎還頗令人不解，60以後的screen 不是應該年年做嗎？即便prostate cancer 在90歲前不用再測，但不用再測其他的高風險疾病嗎？

Journal Reference:

1. Andrew J Vickers, Angel M Cronin, Thomas Björk, Jonas Manjer, Peter M Nilsson, Anders Dahlin, Anders Bjartell, Peter T Scardino, David Ulmert, Hans Lilja. Prostate specific antigen concentration at age 60 and death or metastasis from prostate cancer: case-control study.British Medical Journal, 2010; DOI: 10.1136/bmj.c4521

2. Early prostate cancer detection, screening: No benefit for men with low baseline PSA value, study finds

ScienceDaily (2010-09-13) -- Men aged 55-74 years who have low baseline blood levels of prostate specific antigen (PSA) are not likely to benefit from further screening and treatment, according to a new study.

Journal Reference:

1. Pim J. van Leeuwen, David Connolly, Teuvo L.J. Tammela, Anssi Auvinen, Ries Kranse, Monique J. Roobol, Fritz H. Schröder, and Anna Gavin. Balancing the harms and benefits of early detection of prostate cancer. Cancer, 2010; DOI: 10.1002/cncr.25474

3. No support for routine prostate screening, but one-off test at 60 may be beneficial

ScienceDaily (2010-09-14) -- Existing evidence from randomized controlled trials does not support routine population screening for prostate cancer, a new study concludes. However, a second study suggests that a single test at age 60 could identify men who are most likely to develop and die from prostate cancer. These men could then be monitored more closely, while others could be exempt from further screening.

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The above story is reprinted (with editorial adaptations by ScienceDaily staff) from materials provided by BMJ-British Medical Journal, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.