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One in six men will develop prostate cancer during his lifetime. While only one in 35 will die of the disease, prostate cancer is second only to lung cancer as the leading cause of cancer-related death in men in the United States.
To assists physicians and their patients in the fight against prostate cancer, Molecular Pathology Laboratory Network, Inc. (MPLN) and its subsidiary, Ascendant Medical Laboratory offer specialized and routine tests for early detection of prostate cancer and treatment monitoring.
"The earlier prostate cancer is detected the better," said Stephanie Dolsen, administrative director of Ascendant Medical Laboratory. "If prostate cancer is detected early, physicians can provide treatment at a stage when the disease is easier to manage and increase overall survival rate for the patient."
Although the specific cause of prostate cancer is unknown, several factors can increase a man's risk of getting prostate cancer, such as age, race, family history and diet. In its early stages, it usually has no symptoms and is detected through a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test.
Ascendant Medical Laboratory offers PSA tests to physicians and their patients. Results are available in less than 24 hours in most cases. PSA is a protein produced by the cells of the prostate gland. Because PSA is produced by the body and can be used to detect disease, it is sometimes called a biological marker or tumor marker.
The American Cancer Society recommends annual screenings beginning at age 50 for men who have no major medical problems and can be expected to live at least 10 more years. Individuals who may be at high risk, including African-American men and those with close relatives who had prostate cancer before age 65 should be tested at age 45.
In cases of metastatic prostate cancer, MPLN offers CellSearchTM, an advanced test used to identify and monitor circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in a patient's blood stream.
"Information about the number of CTCs can provide early warning signs about the progression of prostate cancer and help physicians determine the best treatment options for their patients," said Dr. Roger Hubbard founder, president and chief executive officer of MPLN, which is one of the first regional reference laboratories in the Southeast to offer CellSearch.
Data from a multi-center clinical trial showed that patients with less than five CTCs at baseline had significantly better survival rates versus patients with more than five CTCs. Data also showed that CTCs are a strong independent predictor of progression-free survival and overall survival, and that the combination of CTC measurement and PSA testing provides the most accurate assessment of disease status. |
