DiagnoCure Inc. (TSX: CUR), a
Quebec life sciences company that develops and commercializes
high-value cancer diagnostic tests, reported that the PROGENSA PCA3
prostate cancer diagnostic test has been featured in a number of
presentations and discussions at the American Urological Association
(AUA) meeting in Atlanta, GA. The value of PCA3 testing was highlighted
during a debate on the new USPSFT recommendation on prostate cancer
screening. PCA3 testing was the topic of 14 presentations during the
meeting.
USPSTF Recommendation on Prostate Cancer Screening - Implications for
PROGENSA PCA3 Test
On Monday May 21, the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) issued
its final recommendation against the routine use of prostate-specific
antigen (PSA)-based screening for prostate cancer. The Task Force has
stated that PSA testing results in little or no reduction in prostate
cancer-specific mortality and is associated with harms related to
subsequent evaluation and treatments, some of which may be unnecessary.
The recommendation applies to asymptomatic men in the general U.S.
population, regardless of age, but does not include the use of the PSA
test for surveillance after diagnosis or treatment of prostate cancer.
The recommendation has been publicly criticized by the American
Urological Association. The issue was debated by leading urologists
during a "Town Hall" meeting at the AUA meeting earlier this week.
DiagnoCure management believes that the USPSTF recommendation may have
positive implications for the use of the PROGENSA PCA3 test. The PCA3
urine test provides an opportunity to reduce the harm of PSA screening
by reducing the number of unnecessary biopsies while identifying the
lethal cancers. This argument in favor of PROGENSA PCA3 testing was
made during a presentation at the AUA meeting by Dr. John Wei,
professor at the University of Michigan.
Dr. Yves Fradet, President and Chief Medical Officer of DiagnoCure
commented, "These opposing views of the USPSTF and the AUA, as well as
the ongoing debate in clinical community on the most effective way to
screen for prostate cancer, highlight the great need for a test like
PCA3 to reduce the burden of PSA screening while maintaining the
progress made in fighting this number one cancer in men."
Clinical Data on PROGENSA PCA3