New Analyses of Data from the Prostate Cancer Screening Trials

Prostate-specific antigen screening is imperfect, has expensive consequences, and saves relatively few lives.

In 2009, results of the two large randomized trials of prostate cancer screening were published (JW Gen Med Mar 18 2009). In the PLCO (U.S.) trial, screening failed to lower prostate cancer–specific mortality, but the trial was criticized because many men in the control group were screened outside the trial. In the ERSPC (European) trial, the lower incidence of prostate cancer–specific mortality in the screening group reached statistical significance (P=0.04), but 1410 men were screened and 48 were treated to prevent one death at 9 years. Now, new analyses of the data are appearing.

In a post hoc analysis, PLCO researchers stratified participants by presence or absence of comorbidities. Among men with no major comorbidities, 10-year prostate…

Reviewing Author

Allan S. Brett, MD

Disclosures

Nothing to disclose

Allan S. Brett, MD

Disclosures

Nothing to disclose