Actualización en cáncer de próstata: generalidades y diagnóstico

Prostate cancer is a disease clinically characterized by a long latency period and slow tumor growth rate. Prostate cancer is currently a major public health problem because it is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer, and the sixth major cause of cancer-related death in men in the world. It is characterized by clinical and molecular heterogeneity. Diagnosis is based on the use of three basic tests: digital rectal examination, measurement of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) serum levels, frequently used in screening, and prostate biopsy, which confirms the diagnosis of prostate cancer. Nowadays, PSA has become the main testing way for prostate cancer screening, although there is much controversy about its use. Therefore, new biomarkers are being widely researched, in order to provide more sensitive and more specific diagnostic tests. Provided that PSA is a globally used test, and additional tests for early diagnosis of prostate cancer have aroused, is it essential that health personnel, and particularly laboratory personnel, are granted with information about their use, and their relationship with further diagnostic techniques, besides other general aspects of prostate cancer.