PCRI's Executive Director, Mark Scholz, MD, explains the PCA3 urine test, a test that was developed as an attempt to easily determine which men need further diagnostic procedures (biopsy or MRI) after an elevated PSA test.
0:04 PCA3 is a urine test that checks for elevated levels of "prostate cancer antigen 3," a substance secreted by prostate cancer cells. If a physician suspects prostate cancer (for an elevated PSA, for example) then he will perform a DRE to release prostate secretions into the urethra, and then take a urine sample. If PCA3 levels are elevated, that suggests the presence of prostate cancer.
0:40 There are a number of similar tests that have attempted to be a less invasive and time-consuming means of detecting prostate cancer when compared to a biopsy or MRI (Free PSA, ExoDx, OPKO 4K). PCA3 is an older one of these tests and is less specific than newer ones because it does not distinguish between harmless cancers (Gleason 6 and lower) and consequential cancers (Gleason 7 and higher).
1:38 PCA3 is still on the market, but because of its lack of specificity (much like Free PSA and other older tests) its use is not recommended.
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