Why undergoing this examination?

Prostate cancer is one of the leading causes of male mortality worldwide. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is a tumor marker present in the serum, widely used in the early detection of prostate cancer, with serum PSA primarily presented in the free form. However, the specificity of PSA is limited, with positive biopsies in only 25% of patients with serum PSA concentrations between 2 and 10 ng/mL. Analyses have shown that determining the serum ratio of free PSA/total PSA significantly improves the discrimination between prostate cancer cases and other benign prostatic conditions. Additionally, there are a series of inactive PSA precursors secreted by prostate cells called proPSA. Among these, three truncated forms of proPSA can be detected in serum, namely: [-2], [-4], and [-5,-7]. Among these, the most stable form is [-2]proPSA, which presents significantly higher values in prostate tumors compared to benign tissues. 

What is the exam?

The ProPSA Test is a chemiluminescence assay that allows for the determination of the [-2]proPSA value along with PSA and fPSA concentrations, followed by a calculation resulting in the presentation of a Prostate Health Index (PHI). The PHI is a multi-variable index designed to assist in determining the risk of prostate cancer through a single serum sample. 

For whom is it indicated?

The PHI is used as a tool to distinguish patients at high risk of developing prostate cancer from those with benign prostatic conditions, especially indicated for: 

• Men aged 50 and older with total PSA values between 2 and 10 ng/mL, who show no signs of cancer upon digital rectal examination. 

Technology

Chemiluminescence