Predicting the Diagnosis of Prostate Cancer with a Novel Blood-Based Biomarker: Comparison of Its Performance with Prostate-Specific Antigen
Abstract
Simple Summary For decades, a blood test showing elevated prostate-specific antigen (PSA) has been the mainstay for detecting prostate cancer. However, the PSA is often elevated in the absence of cancer. Here, we show that the neuroendocrine marker (NEM) outperforms the PSA test, both for sensitivity and for the exclusion of false-positive results. Abstract The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy, specificity, and predictive value of a newly discovered biomarker, Zinc finger-like1 protein (referred to as neuroendocrine marker, NEM) for the detection of prostate cancer (PCa). We retrospectively analyzed banked plasma samples from 508 men, with a median age of 67 years (range 48–97), to compare the performance of NEM and PSA in predicting subsequent histologic PCa. The cohort consisted of four groups of patients visiting a urology clinic: (1) patients not diagnosed with either benign prostatic disease or prostate cancer (PCa) were defined as normal; (2) patients diagnosed with benign hyperplasia (BPH) but not PCa; (3) patients with confirmed PCa; and (4) patients with cancer other than PCa. The normal men displayed a mean NEM plasma level of 0.948 ± 0.051 ng/mL, which increased to 1.813 ± 0.315 ng/mL in men with BPH, 86.49 ± 15.51 ng/mL in men with PCa, and 10.47 ± 1.029 ng/mL in men with other Ca. The corresponding concentrations of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in these subjects were 1.787 ± 0.135, 5.405 ± 0.699, 35.77 ± 11.48 ng/mL, and 8.036 ± 0.518,…
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a cohort study, done in people. Its evidence level is 3 of 5 (Moderate · trial / cohort / secondary analysis). Trials without a large randomized design, cohorts and secondary analyses give moderate evidence. Reported size: 508 participants or records.
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