Early Detection of Prostate Cancer

PSA Testing Without Overtreating

Since 2008, healthcare providers have been instructed not to routinely use PSA testing on all men due to unnecessary biopsies and overtreatment of men with non-aggressive prostate cancer or benign conditions.

During that time:

  • metastatic prostate cancer diagnoses have increased 5% annually
  • prostate cancer deaths among American men have increased
  • studies show a direct correlation between decreased use of PSA testing and increased late-stage diagnoses

Given this data — along with the development of molecular testing — we believe it is time for PCPs to reinstitute routine PSA screenings for men over age 50 at average risk and earlier screening for those with associated risk factors, including a family history of prostate cancer, ethnicity and genetic changes.

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Provider Resources

Continue scrolling below to find resources on this topic including:

  • Post-PSA Biomarker Tests
  • FAQs
  • Downloadable clinical guidelines and test guides
  • Media Links
  • Related Journal Studies

Effective Use of PSA Testing for Early Detection of PC

Biomarker Testing Supports PSA Screening Without Overtreatment

In 2008, the US Preventive Services Task Force found that nearly 50% of men referred for biopsies had elevated PSA levels due to non-cancerous conditions or slow-growing prostate cancer, leading to its recommendation against routine PSA screenings. Since that time, prostate cancer biomarker tests have been developed that provide additional information on which patients should be referred for biopsy, reducing unnecessary biopsies by 40% or more.

We recommend use of these updated clinical guidelines to improve rates of early-stage prostate cancer diagnoses.

When to Start PSA Screening:

  • Average Risk: 1st PSA at age 50
  • Family history or hereditary mutation: Age 45
  • Black males: Age 40

How to Treat Abnormal PSA Results

Below 1.5 ng/mL with no other risk factors: 

  • Repeat PSA in 5 years. Over 70% of men will have PSA levels <1.5 ng/mL, requiring no further immediate testing.

Above 1.5 ng/mL: 

  • Other risk factors: Refer to urologist
  • Digital rectal exam: PSA levels are correlated with prostate size, so checking for BPH will appropriately limit your pool of biopsy candidates
  • Family history of prostate, breast, ovarian and/or colorectal cancer: Refer for genetic testing to check for known prostate cancer hereditary mutations
  • Prostate cancer biomarker test: If negative, repeat PSA in 1 year. If positive, refer to urologist

Post-PSA biomarker tests are shown below. Click on each for additional clinical information.

selectmdx logo

Select MDx – Providers

Select mdx helps healthcare providers determine if a patient with an abnormal PSA is at higher or lower risk for prostate cancer and which patients can safely avoid biopsy.

exodx prostate cancer marker logo

ExoDx – Providers

The ExoDx™ Prostate Test is a simple, non-DRE, urine-based, liquid biopsy test indicated for men 50 years of age and older.

4kscore prostate cancer marker test

4Kscore – Providers

The 4Kscore® is a FDA approved test that offers the sensitivity and specificity needed to detect aggressive prostate cancer probability.

phi test logo

phi test – Providers

The Prostate Health Index (phi) test is an FDA-approved blood test that can help distinguish prostate cancer from benign prostatic conditions.

FAQs for Providers About Post-PSA Biomarker Testing

Why should I implement routine PSA testing when current USPSTF guidelines do not recommend this?

The rate of advanced stage prostate cancer diagnoses has increased 5% annually since 2008 when routine PSA testing was stopped. Today we have more tools to detect PC in localized stages with 100% 5-year survival vs. 34% 5-year survival in advanced stage while reducing the risk of overtreatment.

How can post-PSA biomarker testing help select the proper candidates for urology referral?

Post-PSA biomarker tests provide an additional layer of data to inform the decision on whether to refer a patient with an abnormal PSA level for a urology consult and potential biopsy. Biomarkers should be used in conjunction with PSA results, health history, risk factors and medical exam (including DRE) to aid in early detection and intervention for improved patient outcomes.

What is the recommended PSA cut-off for biomarker testing?

Various health organizations recommend differing PSA cut-offs, leading to much of the confusion around PSA testing. Based on a study* reviewing the Henry Ford database for 22,000 men, including 30% African Americans, we found that men with a PSA below 1.5% had a .51% of developing a significant prostate cancer within 5 years. Based on this study, we recommend 1.5 ng/mL as the standard cut-off.  73% of patients will fall below that level, requiring no conversation and a re-check in 5 years. For the 17% above 1.5, we recommend an evaluation of DRE, biomarker testing and other risk factors to determine which patients should be referred for biopsy.

*Crawford ED et al. BJU Int 2011: 108(11): 1743-1747
Do I need to have informed consent to give a PSA test?

Prior to ordering a PSA test, providers should discuss the patient’s prostate cancer risk factors — including average risk — as the basis for ordering the test. It’s important for providers to understand and note to their patients that 70% of men will require no further testing and that a higher-than-average PSA score does not result in an automatic referral for a biopsy. Like other standard screenings, such as lipid testing or blood pressure testing, PSA testing is an excellent first-line screening, but it should not be used in isolation to determine biopsy referrals.

Will insurance cover the cost of biomarker testing?

Post-PSA biomarker testing is currently covered by Medicare and most major insurance plans. However, patients should always be reminded to check their insurance policies to verify coverage. Consult the table of PCMs provided on this page for general guidelines on insurance coverage or contact the test manufacturers, listed on the test ordering page, for additional details.

Related Journal Studies

An Approach Using PSA Levels of 1.5 ng/mL as the Cutoff for Prostate Cancer Screening in Primary Care

n this paper, we have presented an alternative approach in which screening is performed for men with at least a 10-year life expectancy. If the PSA is less than 1.5 ng/mL (approximately 70% of men who have a screening PSA), consider a 5-year rescreening interval. If the PSA is ≥ 1.5 ng/mL, or the PCP […]

96% Negative Predictive Value for High-grade Cancer

This study shows that, when compared to other risk factors, detection of DNA-methylation in histopathologically negative biopsies was the most significant and important predictor of high-grade cancer, resulting in a negative predictive value of 96%.   

A Multi-Institutional Prospective Trial Confirms Noninvasive Blood Test Maintains Predictive Value in African American Men

The 4Kscore test accurately detects aggressive prostate cancer and reduces unnecessary biopsies yet, its performance in African American men has been unknown. We assessed test performance in a cohort of men with a large African American representation and confirmed that the 4Kscore test accurately predicts aggressive prostate cancer for biopsy decision making in African American […]

A multi-institutional prospective trial in the USA confirms that the 4Kscore accurately identifies men with high-grade prostate cancer

The 4Kscore combines measurement of four kallikreins in blood with clinical information as a measure of the probability of significant (Gleason ≥7) prostate cancer (PCa) before prostate biopsy. In this study, the 4Kscore showed excellent diagnostic performance in detecting significant PCa. It is a useful tool in selecting men who have significant disease and are […]

Beyond PSA: The Role of Prostate Health Index (phi)

Literature data showed that phi had good diagnostic performance to identify clinically significant (cs) PCa, suggesting that it could be a useful tool for personalized treatment decision-making. In this review, phi potentialities, limitations, and comparisons with other blood- and urinary-based tests were explored.

Commercialized Blood-, Urinary- and Tissue-Based Biomarker Tests for Prostate Cancer Diagnosis and Prognosis

In the diagnosis and prognosis of prostate cancer (PCa), the serum prostate-specific antigen test is widely used but is associated with low specificity. Therefore, blood-, urinary- and tissue-based biomarker tests have been developed, intended to be used in the diagnostic and prognostic setting of PCa. This review provides an overview of commercially available biomarker tests […]

Detection of High-grade Prostate Cancer Using a Urinary Molecular Biomarker-Based Risk Score

The risk score based on the mRNA liquid biopsy assay combined with traditional clinical risk factors identified men at risk of harboring high-grade PCa and resulted in a better patient risk stratification compared with current methods in clinical practice. Therefore, the risk score could reduce the number of unnecessary prostate biopsies.

Prostate Health Index and Prostate Health Index Density as Diagnostic Tools for Improved Prostate Cancer Detection

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the diagnostic potential of p2PSA, %p2PSA, phi, and phi density (PHID) as independent biomarkers and in combination with other demographic and clinical parameters, to predict overall and clinically significant PCa. The ability of p2PSA and its derivatives to discriminate HGPIN at biopsy was evaluated.

Prostate-specific antigen 1.5-4.0 ng/mL: a diagnostic challenge and danger zone

Both Caucasian and African American men with baseline PSA values between 1.5 and 4.0 ng/mL are at increased risk for future prostate cancer compared with those who have an initial PSA value below the 1.5 ng/mL threshold. Based on a growing body of literature and this analysis, it is recommended that a first PSA test threshold of 1.5 ng/mL and above, or somewhere between 1.5 and 4.0 ng/mL, represent the Early-Warning PSA Zone (EWP Zone). 

The prostate health index selectively identifies clinically significant prostate cancer

We investigate whether phi improves specificity for detecting clinically significant prostate cancer and can help reduce prostate cancer over diagnosis. The test outperforms its individual components of total, free and [-2]proPSA for the identification of clinically significant prostate cancer. Phi may be useful as part of a multivariable approach to reduce prostate biopsies and over […]

Related News Posts

9News: Health officials urge people to get preventative screenings for prostate cancer

Dr. E. David Crawford, MD, on a featured story for CBS 9 News in Denver, Colorado regarding early PSA screening.

CBS 8 The Doctor is In: Men’s Prostate Health

Aditya Bagrodia, MD is a board-certified urologist who recommends using PCMarkers as a tool for both patients and providers to learn more about early detection for prostate cancer.

Who should get an at-home prostate-specific antigen test?

Blog post written by David Crawford, MD for Ash.com on at home diagnostic testing for prostate cancer.

American Cancer Society Releases Latest Cancer Statistics, Launches Initiative to Address Prostate Cancer Resurgence and Disparities

Prostate cancer, which is the second leading cause of cancer death for men in the U.S., increased by 3% per year from 2014 through 2019 after two decades of decline. Most concerning is that this increase was driven by the diagnosis of advanced disease. Since 2011, the diagnosis of advanced-stage (regional- or distant-stage) prostate cancer […]

LUGPA Pushes for Regular PSA Screening

Incidences of prostate cancer rose 3% annually from 2014 through 2019, translating to an additional 99,000 new cases and ending two decades of declines, the American Cancer Society reported earlier this year. About one in 8 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer. The drop in prostate cancer screenings has played a role in the rise […]

Transgender Women at Risk for Prostate Cancer

A new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) analyzed 22 years of data and found 14 prostate cancer cases per 10,000 transgender women. While a small study, it’s the first that looks at transgender women.