What is the 4K test for prostate cancer?
The 4Kscore® Test can help reduce the risk of unnecessary biopsies for patients with an abnormal prostate specific antigen (PSA) blood test or prostate exam. The 4Kscore Test is FDA approved and has been proven effective through numerous studies in the U.S. and Europe.
The 4Kscore Test, commonly called the 4K test, is a blood test that measures the level of four prostate-specific biomarkers (Total PSA, Free PSA, Intact PSA, and human kallikrein 2 [hK2]). This information is then combined with your clinical information to provide a score. The 4Kscore® Test result assesses your probability of finding aggressive prostate cancer on a future biopsy. It can also show your long-term risk of cancer metastasis or of dying from prostate cancer.
The test provides a percent risk (ranging from 1-95%) of a patient having aggressive prostate cancer that will be detected with a prostate biopsy. When used to determine if a patient may have aggressive prostate cancer, the 4Kscore has been proven to be much more accurate than the PSA test. A 4Kscore <5.0 is associated with decreased likelihood of a Gleason score ≥7 on biopsy (a Gleason score of ≥7 indicates more aggressive cancer cells). Your physician will evaluate your 4Kscore result, along with your clinical information, and discuss options for next steps.
Compared to the PSA test, this test is not affected by benign (non-cancerous) prostate conditions, which include an enlarged prostate or infection. As such, the 4Kscore gives healthcare providers a much clearer picture of whether or not aggressive prostate cancer is present.
4K Video
Learn about the 4Kscore® test that provides insights into a patient’s individual risk for prostate cancer and whether or not a biopsy or re-biopsy is warranted.
Understanding Your 4K Results
The 4K results are presented with a percent risk of 1-95% of someone having aggressive prostate cancer on biopsy. View a sample 4K results report and learn more about how to interpret the report. Please note that you should always discuss your test results with you healthcare provider first.
4K FAQs
Below is an initial list of frequently asked questions about the 4Kscore® Test.
The 4Kscore® Test is appropriate for the following men:
- Men 45-54 years old and total PSA ≥2 ng/mL and/or abnormal DRE
- Men 55-75 years old and total PSA ≥3 ng/mL and/or abnormal DRE
- Men ≥76 years old and total PSA ≥4 ng/mL and/or abnormal DRE
The 4Kscore measures 4 kallikreins (proteins) in the blood: Total PSA, FreePSA, Intact PSA and hK2. These results are combined with clinical information into an algorithm to determine a score that reflects the risk of having prostate cancer. See a 4Kscore sample result report and learn more about interpreting them.
It’s important for you to talk to your healthcare provider about any test results. In general, the 4Kscore results include a range for probability of prostate cancer risk:
- Low risk: 1%-7.5%
- Intermediate risk: 7.5%-20%
- High risk: 20%->90%
The 4KScore also calculates a probability of not developing distant metastases within the next 10 years. See a sample of a 4Kscore result report and learn more about how to interpret these results.
Although there are many factors that contribute to your healthcare provider’s decision to conduct a prostate biopsy, there are several urinary and blood based PCMs that may help guide you and your physician through the decision of conducting a prostate biopsy. These include:
Genetic tests also may be worth considering if you have a family history of prostate cancer, breast cancer, ovarian cancer or colorectal cancer. These genetic tests are recommended for men who are determined through genetic counseling to be at potential risk for hereditary cancer:
The benefits of the 4Kscore® Test are the following:
- It provides you and your physician with the probability of finding high-grade, aggressive prostate cancer (Gleason score ≥7) if you undergo a prostate biopsy
- It can so the long-term probability of cancer metastasis or death from prostate cancer
Both of these test benefits provide you and your physician with more information so that you can make better-informed healthcare decisions.
The 4Kscore® Test is covered by most leading healthcare insurance plans. Your provider will bill your insurance company, and you will only be responsible for applicable copayment, co-insurance, and/or deductible amounts. For non-covered services, BioReference Laboratories, Inc. and their GenPath division also have self-pay and payment plan options available.
Learn More
Explore more information about the 4Kscore® Test.