title: Prostate cancer screening.
abstract: Prostate cancer is the most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in American men. Although the use of the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test for prostate cancer screening since the 1990s has led to increased early diagnoses, the most recent studies are in conflict about the risks and benefits of routine prostate cancer screening. Recently, evidence has emerged to support the use of the PSA test to lower mortality, but there is still concern that over-diagnosis may lead to over-treatment of cancers that would not significantly affect patients' health for several years. This article describes the results of important recent prostate cancer screening trials, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network and American Cancer Society screening guidelines, and discusses the implications for clinical practice.
authors.affiliation: The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1155 Pressler Street, Cancer Prevention Center, Unit 1360, Houston, TX 77030, USA. edcook@mdanderson.org
authors.forename: Elise D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Cook
authors.forename: Ana C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Nelson
mesh_terms: D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000379:methods; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen