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By Dr Richard Angwin
PCA3 is a molecular test for the detection of prostate cancer cells in urine samples.
PCA3 is more prostate cancer specific than PSA (the usual blood screening test for prostate cancer). The PCA3 result is reported as a score, the higher the score the greater the probability of a positive prostate biopsy whilst the lower
The score the likelihood of a positive biopsy decreases. The greatest diagnostic utility occurs at a cut off of 35. The test is expensive at present, about £480, and is thus not suitable as a basic screening test. Its suggested use is to filter patients with a high PSA reading into those requiring biopsy and those in whom it is safe to monitor in other ways. If it saves you from a prostate biopsy £480 will seem to be money well spent.
