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This is a test that analyses the prostate cells collected in the urine after examination of the prostate gland. Prostate cancer gene 3 (PCA3) encodes for a prostate specific mRNA that has shown promise as a prostate cancer diagnostic tool. Thus, urinary PCA3 appears useful as a highly specific marker for prostate cancer. Although the early results appear promising, the PCA3 test must still be regarded as work in progress at the present time.
Studies have shown that when the urinary sediment contained enough prostate epithelial nuclear material to be evaluated, the PCA3-to-PSA mRNA urinary levels exhibited a 66-82% sensitivity and 76-89% specificity for cancer. Both values compare quite favorably with the accuracy of the PSA blood test.
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