Private MD News

Criteria needed to identify prostate cancer patients who would benefit from surveillance

Category: Prostate

Despite the fact that many men who receive suspicious PSA test results will never develop life-threatening prostate problems, the majority end up being treated with procedures that are occasionally invasive and may cause side effects. There is significant evidence to support the use of active surveillance, but this approach is seldom used.

A team of researchers recently reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology that there are two main reasons for this. First, there are no established criteria for which men with questionable PSA test results should be put on surveillance and which should be treated.

Second, it is difficult to identify the amount of disease progression that would necessitate treatment. The team said that developing a set of criteria that address these issues could lead to better utilization of the active surveillance approach to treating prostate cancer.

Since the disease progresses slowly, many individuals who are diagnosed with it will never be seriously affected by it. Monitoring the development of the cancer is often a more desirable treatment option for these low-risk individuals.