[Prostate cancer: update on screening]

Abstract

The value of mass screening for prostate cancer is controversial. There is no evidence that organized prostate cancer screening programs improve survival. However, the use of prostate specific antigen (PSA) assay for individual screening has become very frequent in France, as in most other European countries. The frequent use of PSA is the main cause for the apparent increase in the incidence of prostate cancer, which has become the most frequent male cancer in recent years. The main problem with screening for prostate cancer is that available tests do not have very good sensitivity or specificity for aggressive tumors, while the adverse effects of treatment may be excessive in patients with less aggressive forms. Ongoing randomized clinical trials of PSA assay should help to clarify the situation.