Description
Determination of the level of the tumor marker [-2] proPSA and calculation of the Prostate Health Index, used to assess the risk of prostate cancer in patients over 50 years of age having a PSA result within the range of 2.0-10.0 ng/ml and a normal digital rectal examination result. When calculating the PHI (Prostate Health Index), three parameters are taken into account: total PSA, free PSA, and [-2] proPSA. Total PSA is a serine protease secreted by the prostate epithelium into the seminal fluid and entering the blood in small quantities. An increase in the total PSA level above the threshold value (4 ng/ml) is considered suspicious for the presence of PCa, but can also be observed in other conditions (benign prostatic hyperplasia, prostatitis, prostate massage and biopsy, and others). The main amount of PSA is present in the blood in a form bound to protease inhibitors. Up to 35% of total PSA accounts for protein-unbound, free PSA. It has been shown that in patients with PCa, the normal ratio of bound and free PSA changes, with the proportion of fPSA decreasing. Although the fPSA test improves the differential diagnosis of PCa and benign diseases, this marker is also not specific for prostate cancer. Free PSA is a complex of proteins consisting of various isoforms of the enzyme characteristic of both PCa and benign prostatic hyperplasia. [-2] proPSA is used as the third parameter in the calculation of PHI. Unlike total and free PSA, the [-2] proPSA marker is a tumor marker characteristic specifically for PCa and not typical for benign prostatic hyperplasia.
Period of execution
Within 6 days. The specified time does not include the day of biomaterial collection
Biomaterial type