Urinary prostate-specific antigen and microseminoprotein-beta levels in men with and without prostate cancer: A prospective cohort study.

INTRODUCTION

The role of urinary proteomics in the diagnosis of prostate cancer (PCa) is undefined. Levels of urinary biomarkers such as prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and microseminoprotein-beta (MSMB) may differ between men with and without PCa. We tested this hypothesis using urine samples before and after digital rectal examination (DRE) in men with an indication for prostate biopsy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In an institutional ethics committee approved prospective cohort study, men with elevated PSA or a nodule on DRE underwent a pre- and post-DRE urine sample examination for urinary PSA and MSMB levels. Levels were compared between men who had PCa diagnosed on biopsy (Group A) and those with a negative biopsy (Group B).

RESULTS

Seventy-seven patients were recruited of whom 32 had PCa (Group A) and 45 had no cancer (Group B) on biopsy. The median (interquartile range) serum PSA was 49.6 (0.2-254) ng/ml. The median urine PSA (29.5 vs. 26.4 mg/dl) and MSMB (1.7 vs. 2.4 mg/dl) were similar in both groups at baseline. However, post-DRE, both these metabolites rose in Group B but not in Group A, resulting in significantly higher post-to-pre values in Group B versus Group A. The post-DRE urine PSA/MSMB ratio was also significantly different between the groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Urinary PSA and MSMB rose significantly after DRE only in men without PCa. Post-DRE urine PSA, MSMB, and PSA/MSMB ratio can differentiate PCa from benign pathology in men with an indication for prostate biopsy.