Prostate cancer early detection practices among men with a family history of disease.
OBJECTIVE
Genetic studies of familial prostate cancer, which is often asymptomatic until advanced stages, rely on correct designation of affection status. In this pilot study, we set out to determine the proportion of unaffected men whose families are participating in a study of hereditary prostate cancer who have been tested for prostate cancer with serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) measurement and digital rectal examination (DRE).


METHODS
Participants were identified from the University of Michigan Prostate Cancer Genetics Project, a family-based study of inherited prostate cancer susceptibility. Of the 141 eligible affected and unaffected sons of men with prostate cancer, 124 (88%) completed a mailed questionnaire regarding serum PSA testing and DRE history.


RESULTS
Among unaffected men, 95% reported ever having had a PSA test, and 97% ever having had a DRE, with most initial tests occurring between the ages of 40 and 60 years. No significant difference in the mean age at first PSA test or DRE between the affected and unaffected men was observed. Affected men were significantly more likely than unaffected men to have a first PSA level greater than 2.5 ng/mL (P = 0.006), but not greater than 4.0 ng/mL (P = 0.614).


CONCLUSIONS
Most men with a family history of prostate cancer are undergoing early detection testing. The differences in early detection testing practices do not appear to account for the difference in affection status among the sons of men with prostate cancer.
Bock
Cathryn H
CH
Department of Epidemiology, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor 48109-0946, USA.
Peyser
Patricia A
PA
Gruber
Stephen B
SB
Bonnell
Susan E
SE
Tedesco
Karen L
KL
Cooney
Kathleen A
KA
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001706:Biopsy; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D044383:Black People; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008487:Medical History Taking; D008824:Michigan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010173:Palpation; D010808:Physical Examination; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000453:epidemiology; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D011472:Prostatitis / Q000453:epidemiology; D012308:Risk Management; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D044465:White People; D001741:Black or African American
D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen