PSA screening 2013. Background and perspectives

In the healthcare political discussions on treatment measures, the controversy over prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening has taken a leading role in comparison to, for example the relatively undisputed role of breast and colon screening. This has fortunately led to an in-depth critical analysis of the available data. One advantage is the benefit on survival which increases with longer follow-up observation times. When carrying out studies the quantitative extent of this benefit can become obscured by prescreening, prevalent screening, lack of compliance, contamination and healthy screen bias. Nevertheless, the European randomized screening study of prostate cancer (ERSPC) study, for example, showed sufficient statistical power to confirm a screening benefit after 9 or 11 years (evidence level A). However, even for prostate cancer the internal problems of preventive medicine of overdiagnosis and overtherapy are also partially dependent on the age range of the screening population and the screening frequency (28-52 %). Unnecessary deficits in the quality of life reduce the benefit of survival in these patients. By using a PSA fine tuning and risk stratification, approximately one third of diagnoses and therapies can be avoided. Additionally, the active surveillance of tumors unsuitable for treatment together with an improved quality of therapy should become of greater importance.