Is additional testing necessary in men with prostate-specific antigen levels of 1.0 ng/mL or less in a population-based screening setting? (ERSPC, section Rotterdam)

Abstract

Objectives: Currently, several prostate cancer rescreening intervals are in use in different countries worldwide, varying from 1 to 4 years. Recently, it has been proposed to determine the rescreening interval relative to the initial prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level and possibly to extend the rescreening interval up to 5 years.

Methods: We evaluated the screening results of two subsequent screening visits (4-year interval) of 1703 men aged 55 to 65 years with an initial PSA level of 1.0 ng/mL or less within a randomized screening trial. We assessed the PSA values, numbers of men biopsied (biopsy indication: PSA level of 3.0 ng/mL or greater), and numbers of cancers detected at the second and third screening visits.

Results: A total of 1327 men (79.3%) attended the second screening visit. Of these men, 13 (0.98%) had a PSA level of 3.0 ng/mL or greater, and three cancers were detected (cancer detection rate 0.23%). At the third screening visit, 1017 men (76.8%) attended, 34 men (3.3%) had a PSA level of 3.0 ng/mL or greater, and five cancers were detected (cancer detection rate 0.49%). The 2344 subsequent PSA determinations in an 8-year period after the initial screening resulted in eight cancers detected, for an overall cancer detection rate of 0.47%. Through linkage of all men with the cancer registry, no additional cancers were found.

Conclusions: A strategy of PSA screening every 8 years for men with a PSA level of 1.0 ng/mL or less will lead to a considerable decrease in the number of screening visits (with the associated costs and stress), with a minimal risk of missing aggressive cancer at a curable stage.