A prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test taken for the first time
between the ages of 44 and 50 can predict the likelihood that a
man will die from prostate cancer over the next 25 to 30 years,
according to researchers at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer
Center. The findings, which will be presented as part of the
2011 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual
meeting, suggest that more than half of men could forego annual
PSA testing and have just three PSA tests in their lifetime, the
first one between the ages of 44 and 50. Men between the ages of
44 and 50 with higher PSA levels are at high risk for aggressive
prostate cancer and should continue to receive PSA tests and
screening as necessary, according to the authors. “This research
helps us distinguish between those men who may benefit from
regular PSA screening for prostate cancer and those men who may
not need to be screened so frequently.” Hans Lilja, MD, PhD,
lead author and clinical chemist at Memorial Sloan-Kettering
Prostate cancer is the