New Research Finds Decrease in Prostate Cancer Diagnoses
Research led by Matthew J. Maurice, MD at the Cleveland Clinic identified cases of clinically localized prostate cancer from 2010-2013 to assess current trends in prostate cancer diagnosing and treatment.
The study found a decrease in the number of cases of diagnosed prostate cancer, from 90,419 cases in 2011 to 71,945 in 2013. The study authors observed a decline across all age and risk groups. However, the greatest declines were in men younger than 70 years and men with low-risk prostate cancer, for which diagnoses decreased by 21% and 36% respectively.
The data came from the US National Cancer Data Base, a nation-wide hospital-based cancer registry.
In 2012, the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommended against prostate cancer screening with PSA tests to reduce over-diagnosis and over-treatment. The study authors noted that although prostate cancer detection decreased most for men with low-risk disease, the decreased cases of high-risk prostate cancer suggested under- diagnosis. The authors wrote, “Decreased detection of lethal prostate cancer, especially among younger men, represents a possible missed opportunity for curative treatment. This alarming trend suggests that if the USPSTF recommendation is followed, more high- risk PC will go undetected and more men with potentially treatable cancers will experience PC morbidity and mortality.”
The data was presented in a research letter published in JAMA Oncology online in June.