What is the 4K test for prostate cancer?
The 4Kscore® Test can help determine if a patient with an abnormal prostate specific antigen (PSA) blood test or prostate exam should be referred for a prostate biopsy.
The 4Kscore Test, commonly called the 4K test, is a blood test that measures the level of a specific prostate cancer marker. 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. This score is computed using several different clinical factors. 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. 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 4Kscore 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. You can also submit your question.
Prostate cancer biomarkers (PCMs) are molecules found in blood, tissue, or body fluids. PCMs are revolutionary new, non-invasive diagnostic tests that may help your healthcare provider decide if your prostate cancer is in fact low risk, if something more aggressive may be lurking in your prostate, or if there are hot spots in the prostate that may need to be re-evaluated upon biopsy. PCMs also can help you and your healthcare provider determine the most appropriate treatment for your cancer.
There are many factors that will make one prostate cancer marker test better suited for individual cases. Many times, individuals who have never had a biopsy or had low to intermediate grade prostate cancer (Gleason 3+3=6 or 3+4=7) diagnosed on a biopsy are well suited for blood or urine prostate cancer markers, whereas individuals who have persistently negative biopsies or a biopsy of intermediate to high grade cancer may benefit from tissue prostate cancer markers. Use this interactive questionnaire to see what tests may be right for you. Once you’ve completed the questionnaire, discuss the results with your healthcare provider. Also be sure to check out our Patient Journey section that may help you decide which test is right for you.
Men with an abnormal digital rectal exam (DRE), a PSA of 1.5 ng/ML or higher, a low-risk (Gleason 3+3=6) prostate biopsy, or a previously negative biopsy are candidates for the 4Kscore® Test.
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:
Learn More
Explore more information about the 4Kscore® Test.