Prostate's PTEN prognosis

U.S. and European academics have separately identified new biochemical signatures that could improve prostate cancer diagnosis and monitoring.^1,2 ProteoMediX AG holds rights to the European data and plans to develop a blood-based test that will complement PSA testing to increase diagnostic accuracy. Metamark Genetics Inc. has licensed the American team's results and plans to develop an objective histological test that will complement Gleason scoring to improve prognostic prediction.

The standard screening procedure to detect prostate cancer includes a blood test that measures levels of prostate-specific antigen (KLK3; PSA).³ Although PSA testing can detect prostate cancer with high sensitivity, the test has poor specificity. The reason for the high rate of false positives is that unrelated factors including prostate inflammation can increase PSA levels...