Prostate-specific antigen glycoprofiling as diagnostic and prognostic biomarker of prostate cancer

Abstract

The initial part of this review details the controversy behind the use of a serological level of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) for the diagnostics of prostate cancer (PCa). Novel biomarkers are in demand for PCa diagnostics, outperforming traditional PSA tests. The review provides a detailed and comprehensive summary that PSA glycoprofiling can effectively solve this problem, thereby considerably reducing the number of unnecessary biopsies. In addition, PSA glycoprofiling can serve as a prognostic PCa biomarker to identify PCa patients with an aggressive form of PCa, avoiding unnecessary further treatments which are significantly life altering (incontinence or impotence).

Using Prostatic Fluid Levels of Some Trace Elements and Their Combinations in Non-Invasive and Highly Accurate Screening for Prostate Cancer

“…Thus, from Table 3 and Table 4, it is observed that measurements of the TE concentrations, Zn/TE concentration ratios, and some other TE combinations in EPF could become a powerful diagnostic tool when seeking PCa. To a large extent, continuation of the search for new methods for early diagnosis of PCa was due to experience gained after a critical assessment of the limitations of the current PSA blood serum tests [5]- [11] [41]. In addition to the PSA test and morphological study of needle-biopsy cores of the prostate, the development of highly precise less invasive testing methods will clearly be very useful.…”

“…The survival rate is proportional to the stage reached at diagnosis; hence early-stage diagnosis using effective diagnostic tools is a key to reducing mortality due to PCa [5]. It is widely acknowledged that screening and early diagnosis of PCa are of vital importance for improving the likelihood of recovery.…”

“…Reliance on PSA testing can result in significant over-detection of alleged PCa and hence inappropriate treatment of non-malignant disease [6]. Nearly 70% -75% of prostate biopsies fail to detect PCa in men who undergo prostate biopsy procedures due to elevated PSA levels discovered after blood serum-test screening [5] [6] [7]. In other words, it has been confirmed that only 25% -30% of patients with a PSA value ≥ 4 ng/mL were finally diagnosed with PCa, leading to the over-treatment of low-risk patients, unnecessary biopsies and nonessential radical prostatectomies [8].…”

Glycan Analysis as Biomarkers for Testicular Cancer

“…Accordingly, it is important to find biomarkers that meet the following criteria: (1) adequate half-life with stability within the bloodstream; (2) the presence in blood/urine in sufficient concentration; and (3) the presence in all TC types, irrespective of age, the localisation and histological profile [32]. A full list of what is required for the biomolecules to become a biomarker can be found elsewhere [33].…”

Synthetic glycobiology

“…The comprehensive review by Tkac et al provides important information that prostate-specific antigen (PSA) glycoprofiling can also be implemented as a diagnostic prostate cancer biomarker in serum [11]. Specific glycoforms can be detected with already validated commercial lectins and provides significant advantage over PSA currently used in clinics.…”