Francis S. Collins, former director of the National Institutes of Health, has announced his prostate cancer diagnosis and upcoming radical prostatectomy. He emphasizes the importance of early detection and clinical trials, highlighting health inequities in screening and treatments, particularly among Black men. Collins aims to raise awareness and share lifesaving information about prostate cancer.
A study from the University of California Los Angeles suggests that using PSA level recurrence as an indicator of overall survival in prostate cancer patients may not be reliable. While PSA levels are useful in detecting prostate cancer and evaluating risk, the study found that there is a lack of evidence to support the correlation between biochemical recurrence and long-term survivability. The researchers recommend focusing on metastasis-free survival as an endpoint for therapy trials. PSA surveillance remains an important tool, but further research is needed to better understand its utilization and impact on patient outcomes.
