How many early detected prostate cancers are needed to prevent one death?
July 20th, 2010 Posted in prostate cancer diagnosisA study at Hospital Clinico Universitario Zaragoza, Spain, aimed to determine the clinical significance of diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer diagnosed in asymptomatic patients, in terms of survival and to face its disadvantages.
The study conclusions highlight the limited evidence for the data in terms of survival. Study warns about the difference in results between the centers of excellence and the rest, and creates doubts about the definition of cancer when it cannot be demonstrated beyond the biopsy. The usefulness of finding and treating early prostate cancers is questionable in terms of cost-benefit, recommending the transfer of this information to patients, before deciding on one or another option.
However, researchers stress the need for long- term prospective investigations to clarify which cases need to be treated and to prevent overdiagnosis. Future studies should consider whether it is worth looking further histological findings, in increasingly younger males and with lower PSA limits.