The utility of prostate-specific antigen as a surrogate marker for identification of high-risk cohorts and assessing response in chemoprevention trials

Serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is the most important tumor marker in oncology practice. It may assume a similar role in chemoprevention strateg ies. It is a simple and reproducible blood test that can both identify a hi ghrisk cohort and provide meaningful information regarding the response to intervention. A wealth of information is available regarding the relationsh ip of PSA to age, race and velocity. Free and total values may serve to fur ther define high-risk cohorts and provide a barometer for response and dise ase presence in chemoprevention trials.