Trial of early detection of breast cancer by mass screening in Miyagi Prefecture

Mass screening for breast cancer which was commenced by Miyagi Cancer Society in 1977 has been carried out on 94953 examinees. The main activities comprise itinerant screening in the communities and group screening at the workplaces. In addition to two types of mass screening, examination was also performed at the detection center. The overall breast cancer detection rate was 0.12% in mass screening. In contrast it was 3.1% at the center. Early breast cancer, however, was more frequently found in mass screening than at the center examination. The cytologic studies of nipple discharge were performed on 14314 subjects as first screening. Positive finding was seen in 5 (0.005%). In high risk group, which also underwent mammography at first screening, the detection rate was higher than that among general examinees. Method for effective procedures for detecting early breast cancer are now under study.     

Prostatic examinations of mass groups and early detection of cancer of the prostate

Epidemiological survey of carcinoma of the prostate in Toyama Prefecture was recently combined with the mass group study concerning the prostate gland conducted for the past several years. The impact of prostatic diseases was estimated and some problems involved in the mass group study were discussed.     

The mortality of prostate cancer in Andalusia. Contributions to mass screening

BackgroundTo describe the mortality of prostate cancer in Andalusia from 1975 to 2001.MethodsEstimation of crude rates, age-adjusted rates, Potential Years of Life Lost (PYLL) adjusted rates, risk of death and the changes produced in the adjusted rates.ResultsProstate cancer deaths rise from 407 to 767. Crude rates increased from 13,54 to 21,35 per 100.000 persons-years. However, the age adjusted rates showed a steady trend over the study period, with an annual percent change of –0,21%, and the premature mortality indicators declined. The cumulative risk of death increased with age, and presented an exponential increase after the age of 50 years, in both the periods, as 1997 2001, with highest values in the second one.ConclusionsProstate cancer mortality in Andalusia has increased in absolute values due to the ageing of the population. When adjusted for age, the mortality has remained stable, with a shift of deaths toward the more extreme age groups, as indicated by the decrease of premature deaths. The results of this study do not support the starting-up of mass screening programs.     

原癌基因PIM-1检测在前列腺癌诊断中的临床意义

目的探讨原癌基PIM-1在前列腺癌诊断中的价值。方法实时荧光定量PCR法检测23例前列腺癌、37例良性前列腺增生及3例正常前列腺组织标本中PIM-1的表达,根据标准曲线法,比较3种组织中PIM-1定量的差异。结果前列腺癌、良性前列腺增生与正常前列腺组织PIM-1的定量表达值分别为4.45±0.63、2.57±0.74、1.05±0.04,3组间比较差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论实时荧光RT-PCR定量检测PIM-1有可能成为前列腺癌诊断的可靠辅助指标。     

前列腺癌集团检诊对临床前列腺癌诊断的影响

目的　探讨前列腺癌集团检诊对临床前列腺癌诊断的影响。　方法　总结 1996至2 0 0 1年集团检诊发现的 67例前列腺癌和 1986至 2 0 0 1年长春各大医院诊治的 3 58例前列腺癌患者资料 ,从年度及年龄分布、临床分期、血清前列腺特异性抗原 (PSA)含量、病理分级和治疗等方面进行对比分析。　结果　 1999至 2 0 0 1年 3年间年均确诊例数较 1986至 1989年增长 4.7倍。其中集团组B期以下早期癌占 58.2 % ,临床组只占 2 7.9% ,且多为偶发癌 ;转移癌的诊断率集团组低于临床组 ;临床组PSA≥ 2 0ng/ml的比率高于集团组 ,低分化癌的比率高于集团组 ,差异均有统计学意义。集团组行前列腺癌根治术的比率较临床组提高了 15.3 %。　结论　集团检诊可以真正揭示国人前列腺癌的发病现状 ,可明显增加临床前列腺癌特别是早期癌的诊断例数 ,是实现前列腺癌早期诊断与治疗的最佳途径     

The role of prostate-specific antigen velocity in prostate cancer early detection

Prostate-specific antigen velocity (PSAV) is the rate of change in prostate-specific antigen (PSA) values with repeated measurement over time. Accurate use of PSAV for prostate cancer early detection requires the use of two or more PSA levels collected over approximately 1.5 to 2 years. When these specimen collection criteria are met, more than 95% of men without prostate cancer will have a PSAV less than 0.75 ng/mL/y, whereas approximately 70% of men with prostate cancer will have a PSAV above this threshold. PSAV is thus more specific than routine PSA testing for the presence of prostate cancer, because few men (< 5%) without prostate cancer have a PSAV sufficient to trigger prostate biopsy. The use of PSAV in the increasing number of men with lengthy PSA histories obtained in systematic efforts at prostate cancer early detection may aid in diagnosing prostate cancer and spare some men unnecessary prostate biopsy. This review briefly summarizes the theoretic basis and clinical utility of PSAV in prostate cancer early detection.     

Frequency and clinical significance of transition zone cancer in prostate cancer screening

Approximately 20% of prostate cancers originate in the transition zone (TZ). Although transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) and systematic biopsies have improved peripheral zone (PZ) cancer diagnosis, additional biopsies directed into the TZ may further improve cancer detection. To evaluate the frequency and clinical significance of TZ cancers, we added two TZ biopsies to the routinely performed sextant biopsies. Three hundred forty patients (aged 45–75) from our prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening study (21,078 volunteers) with negative rectal examination findings underwent systematic and TZ biopsies with three-dimensional ultrasound equipment. All patients had elevated PSA levels according to age-specific reference ranges. Ninety-eight of 340 men (28.5%) had biopsies positive for cancer. Of these 98 cancers, 28 (28%) originated in the TZ only and 5 (5%) were located in the TZ as well as the PZ. Eight men showed TZ abnormalities on ultrasound images, of whom four had biopsies positive for TZ cancer. The TZ cancers detected were pathologically significant in 96% (27 of 28). Seventy-one percent (20 of 28) of pathologically staged cancers were found to be organ confined and all combined TZ and PZ cancers were advanced tumors. We conclude that TZ biopsies enhance the cancer detection rate in prostate cancer screening and should therefore be added to the routinely done sextant biopsies in men with PSA elevation and normal digital rectal examination findings. Prostate 30:130–135, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Significance of prostatic specific antigen in the mass screening for prostate cancer]

The significance of prostatic specific antigen (PSA) was investigated in the subjects examined by the mass screening for prostate cancer from 1985 to 1990. All subjects was examined by digital rectal examination (DRE) and with prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP) and the subjects in whom prostate cancer (Pca) was suspected from abnormal DRE and/or elevated PAP were recommended to receive the secondary screening to confirm the presence of Pca. PSA was measured by radioimmunoassay using Ball-Elsa-PSA-kit. 1,600 serum samples were obtained from our serum bank. The relationship among PSA, prostate size estimated by DRE and age was investigated. PSA was increased with age and the prostate size, PSA being more closely related with the latter. Therefore, we estimated that PSA has an ability to detect benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) in the mass screening. This estimation should be confirmed by using an ultrasound tomography because the prostate size obtained by DRE is inaccurate as compared with that obtained by ultrasound tomography. The cut off level of PSA was determined by control which was composed from the subjects with normal size prostate and one with BPH. When the cut off level was 8.6 ng/ml, the sensitivity, specificity and efficiency as Pca marker was 73.9%, 97.4% and 97.1%, respectively. PSA was more than 8.6 ng/ml in all of Pca with elevated PAP. PSA was expected to improve the Pca detection rate in our mass screening system.     

Prostatic specific antigen (PA) in mass screening for prostate cancer]

The usefulness of prostatic specific antigen (PA) was compared with that of prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP). PA was determined in the serum of 2,183 patient examined by the mass screening for prostate cancer from 1987 to 1990. The serum samples of these patients were obtained from our serum bank. PA was measured by the E test "TOSOH" II (PA). The relationship of PA and PAP to prostate size estimated by digital rectal examination (DRE) and ultrasound tomography (US), and age was investigated. PA and PAP correlated with aging and prostate size estimated by DRE. However PA was more apparently related with these things. The correlation between PA and prostatic size estimated by US was relatively high (r = 0.53), but the correlation between PAP and prostate size estimated by US was low (r = 0.20). When the upper limit of normal range was set at 6.0 ng/ml, the sensitivity, specificity and efficiency was 64%, 97% and 62%, respectively. PA was more sensitive than PAP and could be more useful since none of the patients with prostate cancer was PAP positive and PA negative. We conclude that PA should be a reliable tumor marker in our mass screening system.     

Detection of early prostatic cancer in mass screening program]

Since 1975 up to 1988, we have performed a mass screening program (MS) for prostatic diseases using transrectal ultrasonography (TRS) in the primary study. In our study, 42 cases of prostatic cancer (0.6%) was detected among 6,674 examinees. Out of 42 cases of cancer, 24 (57.1%) were diagnosed as early prostatic cancer (Stage A 1, Stage B 23). The detection rate of cancer in MS and the ratio of early stage of cancer among them were higher than those in the outpatient clinic of our department. Diagnostic accuracy of TRS, palpation and tumor markers in MS were studied respectively through our series of MS. TRS was useful for MS especially in low false negative rate. On the other hand, palpation was characteristic in low false positive rate. Prostatic specific antigen (PSA) among tumor markers was effective to detect early prostatic cancer. However, there were some problems about distinguishing early prostatic cancer from BPH, because of the high false positive rate.     

Effectiveness of mass screening for the prognosis of prostate cancer patients in Japanese communities

BACKGROUND: A study was conducted to investigate the effectiveness of mass screening (MS) for prostate cancer in Japanese communities using the long-term follow-up results. METHODS: Subjects were 279 patients with prostate cancer detected by MS in Gunma prefecture (MS group) and 624 patients with prostate cancer who did not undergo screening (non-MS group). From the follow-up data, the prognoses were compared between the groups. RESULTS: The ratio of patients with Stage II cancer was higher for the MS group (59.1%) when compared to non-MS group (25.3%). As a whole, the prognosis of the MS group was more favorable than that of the non-MS group for relative survival rate. Prognosis was especially favorable for patients with Stage III prostate cancer in mass screening group considering the effect of lead-time bias. CONCLUSIONS: Early detection and longer survival of the patients with prostate cancer detected by mass screening suggested the effectiveness of prostate cancer screening.     

Transrectal ultrasonography for the early detection and staging of prostate cancer

Relatively recent changes and improvements in equipment have vastly increased image resolution for transrectal ultrasonography of the prostate. The expanded use of transrectal ultrasonography has greatly furthered knowledge of prostate zonal anatomy and permitted clinical evaluation of internal prostate architecture. The technique is operator dependent, as the quality of the results is related directly to that person's knowledge and experience. The significant majority of prostate cancers originate from the peripheral zone. Palpable stage B nodules characteristically have a hypoechoic appearance. There is disagreement about the tumor characteristics that cause hypoechogenicity, but large tumors may obscure the normal prostate anatomy and appear isoechoic because of the lack of contrast with surrounding prostate tissue. The transition zone of the prostate is the origin of benign prostatic hyperplasia and almost 20 per cent of prostate cancers. These tumors probably correspond to most stage A lesions. Transrectal ultrasonography is less accurate in identifying transition zone tumors because of the mixed echogenicity of the transition zone, interference from prostatic calculi or calcified corpora amylacea, and poorer image resolution in this area. Studies evaluating the use of transrectal ultrasonography for early detection of prostate cancer generally have shown a twofold increase in the detection rate compared with digital rectal examination. However, the decreased morbidity and expense of transrectal prostate biopsy using an automatic gun device have increased the frequency of biopsy in ultrasound-examined patients compared with those historically evaluated by digital rectal examination. The increased detection rate may in part be a function of the increased use of biopsies, independent of other factors. Transrectal ultrasonography rarely detects cancer in patient with normal digital rectal examination and a normal serum prostate-specific antigen level. Transrectal ultrasonography may be capable of identifying early capsular penetration or seminal vesicle invasion in some patients with known prostate cancer. However, its superiority to digital rectal examination for this purpose has not been demonstrated unequivocally. Ultrasonography does allow directed biopsies of the seminal vesicles or other suspect areas, and this may be helpful in staging the disease. The use of transrectal ultrasonography in prostate cancer has evolved rapidly, and changes in technology antiquate reports within a few years.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Pathology review in an early prostate cancer detection program: Results from the american cancer society-national prostate cancer detection project

Biopsy materials obtained in the American Cancer Society National Prostate Cancer Detection Project were reviewed at the Central Pathology Laboratory at the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology. Of 265 cases submitted, 177 were diagnosed as prostatic carcinoma, 7 as prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN), 13 as atypical glands or atypical hyperplasia, and the remaining 68 were benign hyperplasias. Irrespective of the means of detection or the grading system used (Gleason or WHO-Mostofi), a large majority of the cancers were detected as low-grade tumors. Of 27 cases of PIN reported, 20 were associated with cancer, leaving 7 cases with the sole diagnosis of PIN. These data may indicate the increased use of prostate-specific antigen (PSA), digital rectal examination (DRE), and transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) in the United States is shifting the spectrum of prostate cancer pathology toward early low-grade tumors. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.