Dr. Crawford's 18th International PCa Update

February 12, 2008

There were a couple of presentations about the PCA3 test.

As most of you know the PSA test is the best test we have

for any cancer. However it is not perfect. The PCA3 urine

test appears to be much more specific and has fewer

false positives. This test is a bit more difficult and at the

present time a bit more expensive. However, the use of

this test may prevent therapies of many of the insignificant

cancers. A presentation at the Los Angeles Conference

in September said that up to 48% of procedures may

have been unnecessary. If the PCA3 is as good as many

think it will be, then most of those unnecessary procedures

can be avoided.

Dr. Bostwick has been working on the PCA3 test

for some time. This test is about 95% effective.

Several investigators are now also looking at genetic

markers for prostate cancer. We will eventually have

much better ways to detect and treat many types of

cancer.

When a biopsy is done, usually only the most prevalent primary

Gleason Grade and second most prevalent Gleason Grade is

reported. These two grades are then added for the final Gleason

Score. However prostate cancer may consist of several different

grades which are not usually reported. Dr. D'Amico said

if there is a tertiary or third amount of grade 5 in a 3+4 or 4+3

biopsy sample, then the final Gleason score should be upgraded.

He said that if there is even a small amount of grade 5 in the

biopsy, then it may be of more concern than if the biopsy was

a Grade 4+4 with no Grade 5.

Will post more tomorrow.

I wish you all the bestAubrey Pilgrim, DC (Ret.) Author ofA Revolutionary Approach to Prostate Cancer-Read the original book for FREE at: http://www.prostatepointers.org/prostate/lay/apilgrim/Read new edition for FREE at http://www.cancer.prostate-help.org/capilgr.htmDr. E. Crawford is co-author of the revisionThe year's hottest artists on the red carpet at the Grammy Awards. AOL Music takes you there.

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