KEEPING YOU INFORMED - THE PROSTATE NETWORK


The Prostate Network, a non- profit organization, whose mission is to heighten risk awareness of prostate cancer and to provide essential information regarding screening, treatment  and sources of support for males and their families has addressed the subject of Early Prostate Cancer Antigen  (EPCA) screening in their January 2006 newsletter, In The Know. 

For the last 20 years, the Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) blood test, in conjunction with a digital rectal exam, has been the standard screening regimen for prostate cancer.  PSA [levels], an enzyme found in normal prostate glands, have been measured to determine if further testing was warranted.  EPCA is a new blood protein that was discovered by a team led by Dr. Robert Getzenberg, Director of the Brady Urological Institute at Johns Hopkins.  The EPCA protein was detected only in men with prostate cancer and was accurate 94% of the time.  Unlike PSA, EPCA is present only in cancerous prostate tumor tissue.  For male health providers that provide health services to mature males, this is an important update regarding potential prostate cancer screening methods.  To obtain a copy of the news letter, please visit The Prostate Net’s website at www.prostatenet.org.