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Breaking Down PSA and PSMA-PET for Patients With Prostate Cancer
As part of its Speaking Out video series, CURE talked to Dr. Brian Keith McNeil, on behalf of ZERO Prostate Cancer, about the role of PSMA-PET Imaging versus PSA.
Prostate specific antigen (PSA) is a protein made by the prostate gland. According to Dr. Brian Keith McNeil, PSA is a key tool for screening for prostate cancer. However, it's important to know that both healthy prostate cells and cancerous cells release PSA.
McNeil, vice chair of the Department of Urology at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, explains that because of this, PSA is not a "perfect test." A high PSA level in a blood test doesn't automatically mean a person has cancer. Other things can cause an elevated PSA, such as an enlarged prostate, an infection or inflammation.
A different tool, called PSMA, or prostate specific membrane antigen, helps doctors find cancer that may have spread outside of the prostate. PSMA is a protein found on the surface of prostate cancer cells. The PSMA-PET scan is a type of imaging test that can be used to locate these cells and determine if cancer has spread to other parts of the body, like the bones or lymph nodes.
As part of its Speaking Out video series, on behalf of ZERO Prostate Cancer, CURE spoke with McNeil about about the role of PSMA-PET Imaging versus PSA.
McNeil notes that doctors typically use a PSMA-PET scan for patients with high-risk prostate cancer. When there is a strong possibility that the cancer may have spread based on other test results like the Gleason score or PSA, a PSMA scan can help confirm where the cancer is located.
Beyond finding cancer, PSMA is also being explored as a target for treating prostate cancer that has spread. According to McNeil, researchers are using this protein to create new treatments that can find and destroy prostate cancer cells in the body.
After a patient has been treated for prostate cancer, doctors continue to monitor their health by checking PSA levels on a regular basis. McNeil explains that if the PSA level begins to rise after treatment, it could signal that the cancer has come back. In these cases, a PSMA-PET scan can be used to pinpoint exactly where the cancer has returned, which helps doctors decide on the best next steps.
For patients, McNeil advises knowing key information about their diagnosis, such as the initial PSA level and Gleason score. He encourages patients to ask their doctor important questions like, “What is my risk category?” and “Would a PSMA-PET scan be helpful for me at this time?”
