Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Analysis of variation in prostate-specific antigen values

M Riehmann1, P R Rhodes, T D Cook

  • 1Department of Surgery, University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics, Madison.

Urology
|October 1, 1993
PubMed
Summary

Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels show significant biologic variation, not assay error. This natural variability in PSA may impact the interpretation of rising levels for prostate cancer screening.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

The effects of nuclear mutation on chloroplast development : Part 1: chloroplast DNA, proteins, ribosomes, hormones and tissue cultures.

TAG. Theoretical and applied genetics. Theoretische und angewandte Genetik·2013
Same author

Probiotic helminth administration in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: a phase 1 study.

Multiple sclerosis (Houndmills, Basingstoke, England)·2011
Same author

Optimizing dynamic T2* MR imaging for measurement of cerebral blood flow using infusions for cerebral blood volume.

AJNR. American journal of neuroradiology·2006
Same author

Surgical and nonsurgical invasive treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Drugs of today (Barcelona, Spain : 1998)·2004
Same author

Economics of transurethral thermotherapy of the prostate.

World journal of urology·2002
Same author

An isokinetic investigation of contractile mode's effect on the elbow flexors.

Journal of strength and conditioning research·2001

Area of Science:

  • Urology
  • Biostatistics
  • Medical Diagnostics

Background:

  • Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is a key biomarker in prostate cancer screening.
  • Understanding the sources of variation in PSA levels is crucial for accurate interpretation.
  • Previous studies have focused on assay variability, but biologic variation also plays a significant role.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze the contribution of biologic and assay variation to fluctuations in PSA levels.
  • To evaluate the clinical implications of PSA variability in men without diagnosed prostate cancer.
  • To question the assumption that rising PSA solely indicates the need for invasive testing.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of PSA levels in 129 males without cancer.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Quantification of assay and biologic variation using slopes of PSA concentration over time.
  • Calculation of mean coefficients of variation for both biologic and assay components.

    • Main Results:

    • The mean coefficient of variation for observed PSA levels was 58.0%.
    • Biologic variation (55.3%) significantly exceeded assay variation (13.2%).
    • PSA levels demonstrated frequent decreases of similar magnitude to increases within a one-year period.

    Conclusions:

    • Biologic variation is the primary driver of PSA level fluctuations, with assay variation being negligible.
    • The interpretation of rising PSA levels solely based on assay variation thresholds is questionable.
    • Observed PSA variability in healthy men is likely also present in men with occult prostate cancer, impacting screening strategies.