title: The role of the reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction assay for prostate-specific antigen in the selection of patients for radical prostatectomy.
abstract: Prostate cells present in the peripheral circulation can be detected using an enhanced reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for prostate-specific antigen (PSA) assay. In one study, preoperative enhanced RT-PCR for PSA status was a significant predictor of surgical pathology and postoperative biomechanical recurrence. The use of RT-PCR may enhance the urologist's ability to stage potential candidates for radical prostatectomy, as the assay is a more sensitive and specific predictor of microscopic extracapsular extension than conventional staging modalities. This highly adaptable assay also may have roles in screening for recurrence and in staging other solid tumors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA.
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Katz
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: de Vries
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Benson
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Buttyan
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: O'Toole
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Rubin
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stifelman
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Olsson
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000097:blood*; D011468:Prostatectomy; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D012194:RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase; D012008:Recurrence; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D012194:RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen