Additional Testing

Many tests look for genes, proteins, and other substances (called biomarkers) that provide helpful information about a prostate cancer diagnosis.

Doctor with a stethoscope

The most common screening tool for prostate cancer is the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test. This test is usually the first step in any prostate cancer diagnosis. However, the PSA blood test by itself can't tell you if cancer is present.

Recent research has yielded additional biomarker tests which look for genes, proteins, and other substances (called biomarkers or tumor markers) that can provide information about cancer. These biomarker tests, in addition to the PSA, DRE (Digital Rectal Exam), and biopsy, can give doctors and patients more information on how to determine the probability of both finding cancer during a biopsy and determining how aggressive that cancer is likely to be. 

Additional test types

While none of these tests are conclusive on their own, when performed in addition to a PSA test, DRE, and a biopsy, they can provide each patient with more information about their specific cancer and can aid in both the diagnosis and decision on treatment.

ERG Protein Marker

A marker used on prostate tissue after a biopsy, which measures ERG protein assays. This helps doctors identify patients who have the disease or have pre-cancerous lesions that indicate a patient is more likely to develop prostate cancer over time.

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