title: Real-time PCR PCA3 assay is a useful test measured in urine to improve prostate cancer detection.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The usefulness of PCA3 in the management of early prostate cancer (PCa) is on debate. The aim of this study was to evaluate PCA3 in the detection of PCa and its relationship with tumor aggressiveness.
  
  
  METHODS
  PCA3 score was measured by real time PCR in urinary sediments of 122 patients who underwent prostate biopsy for PSA >4μg/L.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Analysis of ROC curves showed an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.804 for PCA3 score, while the AUCs were 0.587 and 0.697 for PSA and % free PSA, respectively. The probability of positive biopsy increased in relation to PCA3 score, with variations from 37% to 96% for patients with PCA3 score lower than 0.90 or higher than 1.04, respectively. We chose the cut-off value of 0.90, corresponding to a sensitivity of 92.5%, for which we obtained a specificity of 41.5%. No significant differences in PCA3 score were found in relation to Gleason score or clinical stage.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results show a high probability of PCa in patients with an elevated PCA3 score, although we did not find any relationship with aggressiveness of the tumor. PCA3 score can help to select more precisely which patients will need to perform a biopsy of the prostate.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics (CDB), Hospital Clínic, IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Foj
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics (CDB), Hospital Clínic, IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
authors.forename: Montserrat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Milà
authors.affiliation: Laboratory and Department of Urology, Hospital Clínic, IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
authors.forename: Lourdes
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mengual
authors.affiliation: Laboratory and Department of Urology, Hospital Clínic, IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
authors.forename: Pilar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Luque
authors.affiliation: Laboratory and Department of Urology, Hospital Clínic, IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alcaraz
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics (CDB), Hospital Clínic, IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
authors.forename: Wladimiro
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Jiménez
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics (CDB), Hospital Clínic, IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Filella
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics* / Q000652:urine*; D001706:Biopsy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000652:urine*; D012372:ROC Curve; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; C479341:prostate cancer antigen 3, human
keywords: PCA3; PSA; Prostate cancer; Urinary biomarkers