Electronic letters to:

Review:
Ian M. Thompson and Donna P. Ankerst
Prostate-specific antigen in the early detection of prostate cancer
CMAJ 2007; 176: 1853-1858 [Abstract] [Full text] [PDF]
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[Read eLetter] PROSTATE CANCER BIOMARKERS
ETTORE CORSI   (2 August 2007)

PROSTATE CANCER BIOMARKERS 2 August 2007
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ETTORE CORSI

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Re: PROSTATE CANCER BIOMARKERS

e_corsi{at}alcor.concordia.ca ETTORE CORSI

Dr Thompson’s article in CMAJ on PSA testing shows that other assays to detect prostate cancer should be used. Testing of plasma transforming growth factor Beta 1(TGF-B1), interleukin-6(IL)-6, and IL-6 soluble form of receptor (IL-6sR), could possibly be better assays in the detection of aggressive disease (1).

When measuring preoperative plasma TGF-ß1 and preoperative PSA, TGF- ß1 is an independent predictor of disease progression. Even when controlling for PSA levels, plasma TGF-ß1 has significant predictive value (2).

(1) Shariat SF, Kattan MW, Traxel E, et al: Association of Pre- and Postoperative Plasma Levels of Transforming Growth Factor ß1 and Interleukin 6 and Its Soluble Receptor with Prostate Cancer Progression. Clinical Cancer Research,Vol. 10, 1992-1999, 2004.

(2) Shariat SF, Shalev M, Kim IY, et al: Preoperative Plasma Levels of Transforming Growth Factor Beta1 (TGF-ß1) Strongly Predict Progression in Patients Undergoing Radical Prostatectomy. Journal of Clinical Oncology, Vol 19, Issue 11 (June), 2856-2864,2001.