Prostate cancer screening does not reduce deaths
8 April 2011
Another major study has failed to find compelling evidence in support of PSA screening for prostate cancer.
PSA screening is a blood test that measures levels of prostate-specific antigen [PSA], a substance produced by the prostate gland. High PSA blood levels may indicate prostate cancer but are also found in a range of other conditions. Screening may miss some cancers.
A randomised controlled trial involving 9000 Swedish men found PSA screening did not significantly reduce cancer mortality and suggested the risk for over-detection and over-treatment was considerable.
"After 20 years of follow-up, the rate of death from prostate cancer did not differ significantly between men in the screening group and those in the control group", researchers said (BMJ 2011; 342: d1539).
The trial, in which 1500 men were randomised to screening every 3rd year, follows the publication of 2 major studies in 2009 that failed to show a clear risk-benefit from PSA screening over a shorter follow-up.
Last Reviewed: 08 April 2011
- 1. Sandblom G, Varenhorst E, Rosell J, et al. Randomised prostate cancer screening trial: 20 year follow-up. BMJ 2011; 342: d1539. doi: 10.1136/bmj.d1539. http://www.bmj.com/content/342/bmj.d1539.long (accessed Apr 2011).
2. Andriole GL, Crawford ED, Grubb RL 3rd, et al; PLCO Project Team. Mortality results from a randomized prostate-cancer screening trial. N Engl J Med 2009; 360: 1310-9. http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa0810696 (accessed Apr 2011).
3. Schroder FH, Hugosson J, Roobol MJ, et al; ERSPC Investigators. Screening and prostate-cancer mortality in a randomized European study. N Engl J Med 2009; 360: 1320-8. http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa0810084 (accessed Apr 2011).
