Authors' objectives:

To examine the evidence of the benefits and harms of screening and earlier treatment in reducing prostate cancer mortality and to assist the US Preventive Services Task Force in making recommendations on this topic.

Authors' results and conclusions: No conclusive direct evidence shows that screening reduces mortality from prostate cancer. Although we could not precisely determine the sensitivity and specificity of screening with prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and digital rectal examination (DRE), research is clear that these tests can detect prostate cancer at an earlier stage than clinical detection. Because of the heterogeneity in the natural history of prostate cancer, we could not determine how many screen-detected cancers would eventually become clinically important. The efficacy of treatment for clinically localized prostate cancer detected by screening with any of the currently used approaches is unknown. Each treatment is associated with several well-documented potential harms. The cost of a national screening program is potentially large. Modeling studies show that men ages 50 to 69 years could receive benefit at reasonable cost from screening under favorable assumptions about the efficacy of earlier treatment. These studies do not adjust for the potential harms of screening. Given the current strategy for screening, men with a life expectancy of less than 10 years are unlikely to benefit even under favorable assumptions.

Authors' recommendations: We are unable to determine the net benefit of screening because we cannot establish the presence and, if present, the magnitude of benefit from screening. We can establish the presence of potential harms.

Authors' methods: Systematic review

Project Status: Completed

URL for project: http://www.ahrq.gov/clinic/uspstf/uspsprca.htm

Year Published: 2002

English language abstract: An English language summary is available

Publication Type: Not Assigned

Country: United States

Organisation Name: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality

Contact Address: Center for Outcomes and Evidence Technology Assessment Program, 540 Gaither Road, Rockville, MD 20850, USA. Tel: +1 301 427 1610; Fax: +1 301 427 1639;

Contact Name: martin.erlichman@ahrq.hhs.gov

Contact Email: martin.erlichman@ahrq.hhs.gov

Copyright: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)