Prostate Specific Antigen toolkit: 1st supplement to PSA screening and testing for prostate cancer (2012)

March 1, 2012

Read an update from 2012 about PSA screening and testing for prostate cancer based on available evidence

This document is a supplement to the PSA toolkit: PSA screening and testing for prostate cancer published online in July 2009. The document gives an update on the longer-term follow-up for the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian Screening trial (PLCO) and the European Randomized Screening Trial of Prostate Cancer (ERSPC), published March 2012. Also, the document can be used by provincial cancer agencies to put trial results in context.

The 2009 “PSA toolkit: PSA screening and testing for prostate cancer” was published and distributed to provide background information regarding PSA screening and testing (opportunistic screening, case-finding, or ad-hoc testing). The toolkit summarized the long-awaited results of two major trials on prostate cancer screening. The toolkit also delivered the expert panel’s conclusion. The panel recommended not expanding PSA screening practices beyond the current ad hoc situation and that doing so may produce net harm.

This document shares the most recent results about prostate cancer deaths from both trials, published in January and March 2012. After reviewing the evidence, the expert panel concluded that their recommendation from 2009 was still relevant and that PSA screening should not be expanded.

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