A 2-year prospective evaluation of the Prostate Health Index in guiding biopsy decisions in a large cohort.

OBJECTIVES: To prospectively evaluate how the Prostate Health Index (PHI) impacts on clinical decision in a real-life setting for men with a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level between 4 and 10 ng/mL and normal digital rectal examination. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Since 2016, the PHI has been available at no cost to eligible men in all Hong Kong public hospitals. All eligible patients who received PHI testing in all public Urology units (n = 16) in Hong Kong between May 2016 and August 2017 were prospectively included and followed up. All included men had a PHI test, with its result and implications explained; the subsequent follow-up plan was then decided via shared decision-making with urologists. Patients were followed up for 2 years, with outcomes including prostate biopsy rates and biopsy findings analysed in relation to the initial PHI measurements. RESULTS: A total of 2828 patients were followed up for 2 years. The majority (82%) had PHI results in the lower risk range (score <35). Knowing the PHI findings, 83% of the patients with elevated PSA decided not to undergo biopsy. In all, 11% and 45% opted for biopsy in the PHI score <35 and ≥35 groups, respectively. The initial detection rate of International Society of Urological Pathology (ISUP) Grade Group (GG) ≥2 cancer was higher in the PHI score ≥35 group (23%) than in the PHI score <35 group (7.9%). Amongst patients with no initial positive biopsy findings, the subsequent positive biopsy rate for ISUP GG ≥2 cancer was higher in the PHI score ≥35 group (34%) than the PHI score <35 group (13%) with a median follow-up of 2.4 years. CONCLUSION: In a real-life setting, with the PHI incorporated into the routine clinical pathway, 83% of the patients with elevated PSA level decided not to undergo prostate biopsy. The PHI pathway also improved the high-grade prostate cancer detection rate when compared to PSA-driven strategies. Higher baseline PHI predicted subsequent biopsy outcome at 2 years. The PHI can serve as a tool to individualise biopsy decisions and frequency of follow-up visits.

Preanalytical stability of molecular forms of prostate-specific antigen in serum samples (PSA, free PSA, [-2]proPSA) and their impact on fPSA/tPSA ratio and PHI.

BACKGROUND: Prostate cancer is a common cancer in men. Detection methods include the measurement of biomarkers: prostate-specific antigen (PSA), free PSA, [-2]proPSA, and the calculated indices: fPSA/tPSA ratio and Prostate Health Index (PHI). Proper preanalytical conditions are crucial for precise measurement and failure to adhere to protocols or regulations can influence the diagnostic algorithm. We assessed the stability of the above-mentioned biomarkers, fPSA/tPSA ratio and PHI, under various pre-analytical conditions. METHODS: Serum samples from 45 males were collected and stored under specific conditions before tPSA, fPSA, and [-2]proPSA were measured. Subsequently, the fPSA/tPSA and PHI were calculated. RESULTS: tPSA, fPSA, and [-2]proPSA remained stable during the two freeze-thaw cycles. Storage at 4°C and 22°C resulted in stable tPSA concentrations. However, fPSA levels decreased and [-2]proPSA levels increased over time. The fPSA/tPSA ratio remained stable for 72 h, at which point a decrease was observed in the samples kept at 4°C and 22°C. A gradual increase in PHI was observed in the samples kept at 4°C and 22°C. CONCLUSIONS: All biomarkers remained stable during two freeze-thaw cycles. tPSA was the most stable analyte when stored at 4°C, as well as at RT. A gradual increase of [-2]proPSA and a slight decrease in fPSA were observed during the storage test. This led to a decrease in the fPSA/tPSA ratio and an elevation in the PHI. We therefore recommend measuring prostate biomarkers promptly following blood collection. IMPACT: Understanding the pre-analytical stability of prostate biomarkers helps prevent false positive results and improve the accuracy of diagnostics for prostate cancer.

Prostate health index (PHI) as an accurate prostate cancer predictor.

PURPOSE: This study aims to compare the ability of the PHI versus tPSA test to predict the presence of PCa in our population. METHODS: A prospective observational study was performed. We included patients with tPSA ≥ 2.5 ng/ml, biopsy naïve or previous negative biopsy, undergoing a blood test, which includes tPSA, fPSA, and p2PSA, and a prostate biopsy between March 2019 and March 2022. Patients with PCa found in the biopsy-Group A-were compared with patients with a negative biopsy result-Group B. Diagnostic accuracy of tPSA and PHI was assessed by receiver operating characteristic [ROC] curves and logistic regression. RESULTS: 140 men were included. Fifty-seven (40.7%) had a positive prostate biopsy result (Group A), and 83 (59.3%) had a negative biopsy result (Group B). The mean age was similar in both groups (mean ± standard deviation), 66.86 ± 6.61 years. No difference was found in the tPSA value between the groups (Group A PSA: 6.11 ng/ml (3.56-17.01); Group B: 6.42 ng/ml (2.46-19.45), p = 0.41). The mean value of PHI was statistically different between groups (Group A 65.50 (29-146) vs. Group B 48 (16-233), p = 0.0001). The area under the curve 0.44 for tPSA and 0.77 for PHI. The multivariate logistic regression model applied to PHI showed a significant increase in its predictive accuracy: 72.14% in the model without PHI, 76.09% with PHI. CONCLUSION: The PHI test improves PCa detection compared to tPSA in our population.

[Immuno-analytical characteristics of PSA and derived biomarkers (total PSA, free PSA, p2PSA)]. / Caractéristiques immuno-analytiques du PSA et des biomarqueurs dérivés (PSA total, PSA libre et P2ProPSA).

Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is the recommended tumor marker for individual screening and follow-up of prostate cancer. This paper reviews main structural and physiological data about prostate specific antigen isoforms: total PSA, free PSA, [-2]proPSA (also named p2PSA). It describes the pre-, per- and post-analytical conditions for these different parameters. It presents the interpretation of results and derived calculated indices (free/total PSA ratio, Prostate Health Index or PHI) for the management of prostate cancer (initial diagnosis and follow-up).

Targeted Mass Spectrometry Assays for Specific Quantification of Urinary proPSA Isoforms.

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second leading cause of male cancer-related deaths in the United States. The pre-mature forms of prostate-specific antigen (PSA), proPSA, were shown to be associated with PCa. However, there is a technical challenge in the development of antibody-based immunoassays for specific recognition of each individual proPSA isoform. Herein, we report the development of highly specific, antibody-free, targeted mass spectrometry assays for simultaneous quantification of [-2], [-4], [-5], and [-7] proPSA isoforms in voided urine. The newly developed proPSA assays capitalize on Lys-C digestion to generate surrogate peptides with appropriate length (9-16 amino acids) along with long-gradient liquid chromatography separation. The assay utility of these isoform markers was evaluated in a cohort of 30 well-established clinical urine samples for distinguishing PCa patients from healthy controls. Under the 95% confidence interval, the combination of [-2] and [-4] proPSA isoforms yields the area under curve (AUC) of 0.86, and the AUC value for the combined all four isoforms was calculated to be 0.85. We have further verified [-2]proPSA, the dominant isoform, in an independent cohort of 34 clinical urine samples. Validation of proPSA isoforms in large-scale cohorts is needed to demonstrate their potential clinical utility.

The prostate health index and the percentage of [-2]proPSA maintain their diagnostic performance when calculated with total and free PSA from different manufacturers.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the diagnostic performance of the prostate health index (PHI) and of the percentage of [-2]proPSA (%[-2]proPSA) calculated with total and free PSA from non-Beckman Coulter manufacturers (Roche and Abbott), and compare it with the fully Beckman Coulter [-2]proPSA derivatives. METHODS: In this study, 237 men (PSA: 2-10 µg/L) scheduled for prostate biopsy were enrolled. %[-2]proPSA and PHI were calculated with total and free PSA from three manufacturers. Beckman Coulter PSA and [-2]proPSA were performed on the Access 2 analyzer (Hybritech calibration). Roche PSA was performed on the cobas e411 and the Abbott PSA on the Architect i2000sr. Statistical analysis was performed, considering prostate cancer (PCa) as the outcome. RESULTS: Univariate analysis showed that all indices were predictors of cancer, irrespective of the manufacturer (p<0.001). The AUC was similar for all manufacturers, both for %[-2]proPSA (Beckman Coulter: 0.756; Roche: 0.770; Abbott: 0.756) and PHI (Beckman Coulter: 0.776; Roche: 0.785; Abbott: 0.778). When considering the cutoffs that allowed 90% sensitivity, [-2]proPSA derivatives calculated with Roche and Abbott PSA had similar specificities and predictive values when compared to Beckman Coulter. The percentage of missed cancers (8-9%) was the same between manufacturers. The percentage of spared biopsies was significantly higher with Roche's PHI (21.0%) and Abbott's PHI (20.6%) than with Beckman Coulter's PHI (17.2%). CONCLUSIONS: In the PSA range between 2 and 10 µg/L, [-2]proPSA derivatives maintain their diagnostic performance in PCa detection when calculated with PSA from Roche and Abbott. This can lead to a broader implementation of these indices in clinical laboratories worldwide.

Evaluation of Phi Clinical Performance for the Detection of Prostate Cancer in Routine Clinical Practice.

Prostate Health Index (phi) and percent free PSA (%fPSA) are used in patients with a PSA concentration between 4-10 µg/L as an aid to distinguish prostate cancer (PCa) from benign conditions, and to assist in the decision of whether to proceed to biopsy. This study assesses the clinical performance and diagnostic accuracy of phi versus %fPSA in a cohort of Mayo Clinic's patients. Of 4065 phi orders received from May 2017-August 2018, concordance between phi and %fPSA results was evaluated on 2845 results with a total PSA within 4-10 µg/L. Retrospective chart review was performed on 201 Mayo Clinic patients, and %fPSA and phi results were compared with both the decision to biopsy and presence of PCa at biopsy. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of PSA, %fPSA and phi was performed. In this study 2.5% of the 2845 orders exhibited discordant PCa risk classifications between %fPSA and phi results. In the phi high risk category, 41.7% (versus 26.1% by %fPSA) of patients had biopsy and 100% (versus 66.6% by %fPSA) were positive for PCa. Phi exhibited the highest specificity and ROC area under the curve compared to %fPSA and PSA. phi was a better predictor than %fPSA for finding PCa at biopsy. These findings support continued utilization of phi in the evaluation of patients with a PSA in the 4-10 µg/L range.

Preanalytical stability of [-2]proPSA in whole blood stored at room temperature before separation of serum and plasma: implications to Phi determination.

Background [-2]proPSA seems to outperform free/total prostate-specific antigen (PSA) ratio in prostate cancer diagnosis. However, [-2]proPSA stability remains an underestimated issue. We examined [-2]proPSA stability over time in whole blood before separation of serum and plasma and its implications for prostate health index (Phi) determination. Total PSA (tPSA) and free PSA (fPSA) stabilities were also assessed. Methods Blood was drawn from 26 patients and separated in two tubes for plasma (K2EDTA and K2EDTA plus protease inhibitors - P100) and one for serum (clot activator plus gel separator). Tubes were stored at room temperature before centrifugation 1, 3 and 5 h for serum and EDTA plasma or 1 and 5 h for P100 plasma. To investigate the influence of gel separator on markers' stability, blood was collected from 10 patients in three types of tubes to obtain serum: tubes with clot activator plus gel separator, with silica particles or glass tubes. Biomarkers were assayed with chemiluminescent immunoassays. Results [-2]proPSA and Phi levels significantly and progressively increased over time in serum (+4.81% and +8.2% at 3 h; +12.03% and +14.91% at 5 h, respectively, vs. 1 h; p<0.001). Conversely, [-2]proPSA levels did not change in plasma (EDTA or P100). tPSA levels did not change over time in serum or plasma, whereas fPSA decreased in serum. All markers were higher in plasma than in serum at any time point. This difference did not seem to be attributable to the use of gel for serum preparation. Conclusions EDTA prevented spurious in vitro modifications in PSA-related isoforms, confirming that a stabilized blood sample is a prerequisite for [-2]proPSA measurement and Phi determination.

[Epigenetic markers of early diagnostics of prostate cancer.]

The last 25 years, the prostate specific antigen (PSA) of the serum is used to diagnose prostate cancer. The experience of applying the PSA test showed its inconsistency as a diagnostic marker due to low cancerspecificity. Along with this, the next wave of biomarkers of prostate cancer appeared, which may supplement or, in due course, replace PSA due to higher sensitivity and cancerspecificity. This expanding panel of biomarkers was supplemented, basically, with new genomic technologies, which allowed to look impartially at cancer biology. Such efforts gave several notable success stories, quickly moving biomarkers from the laboratory table to clinical practice. The bulk of biomarker research focuses on early diagnosis of the disease, rather than on predictions that will allow for the prevention of the disease. This article examines the current state of biomarker studies of prostate cancer, including the revolutionary significance of the PSA test and its impact on early detection of prostate cancer, recent advances in biomarker detection, and a further developmental vector that improves the clinical management of this disease.

Comparative Study of Blood-Based Biomarkers, α2,3-Sialic Acid PSA and PHI, for High-Risk Prostate Cancer Detection.

Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) is the most commonly used serum marker for prostate cancer (PCa), although it is not specific and sensitive enough to allow the differential diagnosis of the more aggressive tumors. For that, new diagnostic methods are being developed, such as PCA-3, PSA isoforms that have resulted in the 4K score or the Prostate Health Index (PHI), and PSA glycoforms. In the present study, we have compared the PHI with our recently developed PSA glycoform assay, based on the determination of the α2,3-sialic acid percentage of serum PSA (% α2,3-SA), in a cohort of 79 patients, which include 50 PCa of different grades and 29 benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) patients. The % α2,3-SA could distinguish high-risk PCa patients from the rest of patients better than the PHI (area under the curve (AUC) of 0.971 vs. 0.840), although the PHI correlated better with the Gleason score than the % α2,3-SA. The combination of both markers increased the AUC up to 0.985 resulting in 100% sensitivity and 94.7% specificity to differentiate high-risk PCa from the other low and intermediate-risk PCa and BPH patients. These results suggest that both serum markers complement each other and offer an improved diagnostic tool to identify high-risk PCa, which is an important requirement for guiding treatment decisions.

Measurement of serum isoform [-2]proPSA derivatives shows superior accuracy to magnetic resonance imaging in the diagnosis of prostate cancer in patients with a total prostate-specific antigen level of 2-10 ng/ml.

OBJECTIVE: More accurate diagnostic procedures for prostate cancer are needed to avoid unnecessary biopsy due to the low specificity of prostate-specific antigen (PSA). Recent studies showed that the percentage of serum isoform [-2]proPSA (p2PSA) to free PSA (%p2PSA), the Prostate Health Index (PHI) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were more accurate than PSA. The aim of this study was to test the accuracy of %p2PSA, PHI and MRI in discriminating patients with and without prostate cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The subjects were 50 consecutive men with a PSA level of 2.0-10.0 ng/ml, who underwent prostate biopsy from October 2012 to July 2014. These patients underwent multiparametric MRI before biopsy, and their serum samples were measured for PSA, free PSA and p2PSA. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of PHI, %p2PSA and MRI were compared with PSA in the diagnosis of biopsy-confirmed prostate cancer. RESULTS: In a univariate analysis, %p2PSA [area under the curve (AUC): 0.811] and PHI (AUC 0.795) were more accurate than MRI (AUC: 0.583) and PSA (AUC: 0.554) for prostate cancer detection. At 60% sensitivity, the specificity of PHI (76.5%) was higher than that of MRI (52.9%). For significant cancer detection, %p2PSA (AUC: 0.745), PHI (AUC: 0.791) and MRI (AUC: 0.739) were marginally more accurate than PSA (AUC: 0.696). At 85% sensitivity, the specificity of MRI (62.1%) was higher than that of PHI (34.5%). CONCLUSION: PHI and %p2PSA can be used for screening the general population and MRI can be used for detection of significant cancer in patients suspected, from screening tests, of having prostate cancer.

Establishment of a mammalian expression system for recombinant [-2]proPSA and a specific antibody against the truncated leader peptide.

A truncated precursor form of prostate-specific antigen (PSA), [-2]proPSA, is a well-known biomarker for prostate cancer. To develop a biomarker assay, highly purified [-2]proPSA is required as a standard reference and for generation of a specific antibody. In this study, we generated an efficient mammalian expression system for producing a recombinant [-2]proPSA-human kappa constant domain (Cκ ) fusion protein. N-terminal amino acid sequencing using Edman degradation demonstrated that over 95% of the recombinant protein produced is [-2]proPSA, thereby showing for the first time that recombinant [-2]proPSA can be produced as a major fraction. We also generated a recombinant chicken antibody specific to [-2]proPSA but not cross-reactive to recombinant [-7]proPSA-Cκ , [-5]proPSA-Cκ , and PSA purified from human seminal fluid in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunoblot analysis. Also, the recombinant chicken antibody reacted to recombinant [-2]proPSA protein bound to an anti-PSA antibody coated on the micrometer plate in a sandwich ELISA. All of these results suggest that the N-terminus of the [-2]proPSA-Cκ fusion protein resides on the exterior of the protein, thus allowing exposure to the antibody.

Early Prediction of Therapy Response to Abiraterone Acetate Using PSA Subforms in Patients with Castration Resistant Prostate Cancer.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prognostic ability of early changes of total prostate specific antigen (tPSA), free PSA (fPSA), [-2]proPSA and the Prostate Health Index (PHI) following initiation of Abiraterone-therapy in men with castration resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). In 25 patients, PSA-subforms were analyzed before and at 8-12 weeks under therapy as prognosticators of progression-free-survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Comparing patients with a PFS < vs. ≥12 months by using Mann-Whitney-Wilcoxon Tests, the relative-median-change of tPSA (-0.1% vs. -86.8%; p = 0.02), fPSA (12.1% vs. -55.3%; p = 0.03) and [-2]proPSA (8.1% vs. -59.3%; p = 0.05) differed significantly. For men with ≤ vs. >15 months of OS there was a non-significant trend for a difference in the relative-median-change of fPSA (17.0% vs. -46.3%; p = 0.06). In Kaplan-Meier analyses, declining fPSA and [-2]proPSA were associated with a longer median PFS (13 months, 95% confidence interval (CI): 9.6-16.4 vs. 10 months, 95% CI: 3.5-16.5; p = 0.11), respectively. Correspondingly, decreasing fPSA and [-2]proPSA values indicated an OS of 32 months (95% CI: not reached (NR)) compared to 21 months in men with rising values (95% CI: 7.7-34.3; p = 0.14), respectively. We concluded that the addition of fPSA- and [-2]proPSA-changes to tPSA-information might be further studied as potential markers of early Abiraterone response in mCRPC patients.

The percentage of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) isoform [-2]proPSA and the Prostate Health Index improve the diagnostic accuracy for clinically relevant prostate cancer at initial and repeat biopsy compared with total PSA and percentage free PSA in men aged ≤65 years.

OBJECTIVES: To prospectively test the diagnostic accuracy of the percentage of prostate specific antigen (PSA) isoform [-2]proPSA (%p2PSA) and the Prostate Health Index (PHI), and to determine their role for discrimination between significant and insignificant prostate cancer at initial and repeat prostate biopsy in men aged ≤65 years. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The diagnostic performance of %p2PSA and PHI were evaluated in a multicentre study. In all, 769 men aged ≤65 years scheduled for initial or repeat prostate biopsy were recruited in four sites based on a total PSA (t-PSA) level of 1.6-8.0 ng/mL World Health Organization (WHO) calibrated (2-10 ng/mL Hybritech-calibrated). Serum samples were measured for the concentration of t-PSA, free PSA (f-PSA) and p2PSA with Beckman Coulter immunoassays on Access-2 or DxI800 instruments. PHI was calculated as (p2PSA/f-PSA × âˆšt-PSA). Uni- and multivariable logistic regression models and an artificial neural network (ANN) were complemented by decision curve analysis (DCA). RESULTS: In univariate analysis %p2PSA and PHI were the best predictors of prostate cancer detection in all patients (area under the curve [AUC] 0.72 and 0.73, respectively), at initial (AUC 0.67 and 0.69) and repeat biopsy (AUC 0.74 and 0.74). t-PSA and %f-PSA performed less accurately for all patients (AUC 0.54 and 0.62). For detection of significant prostate cancer (based on Prostate Cancer Research International Active Surveillance [PRIAS] criteria) the %p2PSA and PHI equally demonstrated best performance (AUC 0.70 and 0.73) compared with t-PSA and %f-PSA (AUC 0.54 and 0.59). In multivariate analysis PHI we added to a base model of age, prostate volume, digital rectal examination, t-PSA and %f-PSA. PHI was strongest in predicting prostate cancer in all patients, at initial and repeat biopsy and for significant prostate cancer (AUC 0.73, 0.68, 0.78 and 0.72, respectively). In DCA for all patients the ANN showed the broadest threshold probability and best net benefit. PHI as single parameter and the base model + PHI were equivalent with threshold probability and net benefit nearing those of the ANN. For significant cancers the ANN was the strongest parameter in DCA. CONCLUSION: The present multicentre study showed that %p2PSA and PHI have a superior diagnostic performance for detecting prostate cancer in the PSA range of 1.6-8.0 ng/mL compared with t-PSA and %f-PSA at initial and repeat biopsy and for predicting significant prostate cancer in men aged ≤65 years. They are equally superior for counselling patients before biopsy.

Prostate Specific Antigen as a Tumor Marker in Prostate Cancer: Biochemical and Clinical Aspects.

In this chapter the use of prostate specific antigen (PSA) as a tumor marker for prostate cancer is discussed. The chapter provides an overview of biological and clinical aspects of PSA. The main drawback of total PSA (tPSA) is its lack of specificity for prostate cancer which leads to unnecessary biopsies. Moreover, PSA-testing poses a risk of overdiagnosis and subsequent overtreatment. Many PSA-based markers have been developed to improve the performance characteristics of tPSA. As well as different molecular subforms of tPSA, such as proPSA (pPSA) and free PSA (fPSA), and PSA derived kinetics as PSA-velocity (PSAV) and PSA-doubling time (PSADT). The prostate health index (phi), PSA-density (PSAD) and the contribution of non PSA-based markers such as the urinary transcripts of PCA3 and TMPRSS-ERG fusion are also discussed. To enable further risk stratification tumor markers are often combined with clinical data (e.g. outcome of DRE) in so-called nomograms. Currently the role of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the detection and staging of prostate cancer is being explored.

PHI in the Early Detection of Prostate Cancer.

AIM: To evaluate changes in the serum levels of prostate specific antigen (PSA), %free PSA and -2proPSA biomarkers, and prostate health index (PHI) in the diagnostic algorithm of early prostate cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The Immunoanalytical Laboratory of the University Hospital in Pilsen examined sera from 263 patients being treated at the Hospital's Urology Department with suspected prostate cancer who had undergone biopsies and were divided into a benign and malignant group. The monitored biomarkers were measured using chemiluminescence. All statistical analyses were calculated using the SAS software. RESULTS: We found statistically significantly increased levels of -2proPSA, PHI and PSA and decreased levels of %freePSA in patients diagnosed with prostate cancer by prostate biopsy vs. patients with benign prostatic hypertrophy (median values: -2proPSA: 16 vs. 21 ng/l, PHI: 35 vs. 62, total PSA: 7.2 vs. 7.7 µg/l and %free PSA: 16.7 vs. 11.7%). Receiver operating characteristic curves showed the best performance for PHI compared to other markers. CONCLUSION: The assessment of -2proPSA and the calculation of PHI appear to be of great benefit for a more accurate differential diagnosis of benign hyperplasia and prostate cancer.

PSA Isoforms' Velocities for Early Diagnosis of Prostate Cancer.

Free prostate-specific antigen (fPSA) and its molecular isoforms are suggested for enhancement of PSA testing in prostate cancer (PCa). In the present study we evaluated whether PSA isoforms' velocities might serve as a tool to improve early PCa diagnosis. Our study population included 381 men who had undergone at least one ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy whose pathologic examination yielded PCa or showed no evidence of prostatic malignancy. Serial PSA, fPSA, and proPSA measurements were performed on serum samples covering 7 years prior to biopsy using Beckmann Coulter Access immunoassays. Afterwards, velocities of PSA (PSAV), fPSA% (fPSA%V), proPSA% (proPSA%V) and the ratio proPSA/PSA/V were calculated and their ability to discriminate cancer from benign disease was evaluated. Among 381 men included in the study, 202 (53%) were diagnosed with PCa and underwent radical prostatectomy at our Department. PSAV, fPSA%V, proPSA%V as well as proPSA/PSA/V were able to differentiate significantly between PCa and non-cancerous prostate. The highest discriminatory power between cancer and benign disease has been observed two and one year prior to diagnosis with all measured parameters. Among all measured parameters, fPSA%V showed the best cancer specificity of 45.3% with 90% of sensitivity. In summary, our results highlight the value of PSA isoforms' velocity for early detection of PCa. Especially fPSA%V should be used in the clinical setting to increase cancer detection specificity.

Comprehensive assessment for novel prostate cancer markers in the prostate-specific antigen era: focusing on Asians and Asian countries.

We reviewed the current evidence for three novel prostate tumor markers (PCA3, TMPRSS2:ERG and proPSA) that have been recently reported predominantly in Western countries. We focus our attention on Asian men in both clinical and basic research studies. There have been no reports on the clinical usefulness of these three markers for Asians living in Western countries. In Asian countries, evidence for the clinical usefulness of PCA3 and proPSA-related indices including Prostate Health Index is being accumulated, mainly in Japan. The process for how a novel marker is approved in the clinical setting is also discussed.

Clinical performance of the Prostate Health Index (PHI) for the prediction of prostate cancer in obese men: data from the PROMEtheuS project, a multicentre European prospective study.

OBJECTIVES: To test serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) isoform [-2]proPSA (p2PSA), p2PSA/free PSA (%p2PSA) and Prostate Health Index (PHI) accuracy in predicting prostate cancer in obese men and to test whether PHI is more accurate than PSA in predicting prostate cancer in obese patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The analysis consisted of a nested case-control study from the pro-PSA Multicentric European Study (PROMEtheuS) project. The study is registered at http://www.controlled-trials.com/ISRCTN04707454. The primary outcome was to test sensitivity, specificity and accuracy (clinical validity) of serum p2PSA, %p2PSA and PHI, in determining prostate cancer at prostate biopsy in obese men [body mass index (BMI) ≥30 kg/m(2) ], compared with total PSA (tPSA), free PSA (fPSA) and fPSA/tPSA ratio (%fPSA). The number of avoidable prostate biopsies (clinical utility) was also assessed. Multivariable logistic regression models were complemented by predictive accuracy analysis and decision-curve analysis. RESULTS: Of the 965 patients, 383 (39.7%) were normal weight (BMI <25 kg/m(2) ), 440 (45.6%) were overweight (BMI 25-29.9 kg/m(2) ) and 142 (14.7%) were obese (BMI ≥30 kg/m(2) ). Among obese patients, prostate cancer was found in 65 patients (45.8%), with a higher percentage of Gleason score ≥7 diseases (67.7%). PSA, p2PSA, %p2PSA and PHI were significantly higher, and %fPSA significantly lower in patients with prostate cancer (P < 0.001). In multivariable logistic regression models, PHI significantly increased accuracy of the base multivariable model by 8.8% (P = 0.007). At a PHI threshold of 35.7, 46 (32.4%) biopsies could have been avoided. CONCLUSION: In obese patients, PHI is significantly more accurate than current tests in predicting prostate cancer.

Performance of serum prostate-specific antigen isoform [-2]proPSA (p2PSA) and the prostate health index (PHI) in a Chinese hospital-based biopsy population.

BACKGROUND: The use of serum [-2]proPSA (p2PSA) and its derivative, the prostate health index (PHI), in detecting prostate cancer (PCa) have been consistently shown to have better performance than total prostate-specific antigen (tPSA) in discriminating biopsy outcomes in western countries. However, little is known about their performance in Chinese men. Our objective is to test the performance of p2PSA and PHI and their added value to tPSA in discriminating biopsy outcomes in Chinese men. METHODS: Consecutive patients who underwent prostate biopsy in three tertiary hospitals in Shanghai, China during 2012-2013 were recruited. Serum tPSA, free PSA (fPSA), and p2PSA were measured centrally using Beckman Coulter's DxI 800 Immunoassay System. The primary outcome is PCa and the secondary outcome is high-grade PCa (Gleason Score of 4 + 3 or worse). Discriminative performance was assessed using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), detection rate and Decision Curve Analysis (DCA). RESULTS: Among 636 patients who underwent prostate biopsy, PHI was a significant predictor of biopsy outcomes, independent of other clinical variables. The AUC in discriminating PCa from non-PCa was consistently higher for PHI than tPSA in the entire cohort (0.88 vs. 0.81) as well as in patients with tPSA at 2-10 ng/ml (0.73 vs. 0.53), at 10.1-20 ng/ml (0.81 vs. 0.58), and at tPSA >20 ng/ml (0.90 vs. 0.80). The differences were statistically significant in all comparisons, P < 0.01. To detect 90% of all PCa in the cohort, 362 and 457 patients would need to be biopsied based on PHI and tPSA cutoff, respectively, a 21% reduction for PHI. Similar results were found for discriminating high-grade PCa. CONCLUSIONS: PHI provides added value over tPSA in discriminating PCa and high-grade PCa in patients who underwent prostate biopsy in China.