Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction assays for prostate cancer : Prostate-specific antigen: the best prostatic tumor marker

The use of reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction assays (RT-PCR) directed against prostate or prostate cancer-specific genes is a controversial topic. This article reviews the field thoroughly to delineate areas where consensus may have been reached versus those areas of continuing controversy. Regardless of the tissue substrate tested (blood, marrow), there is apparent consensus that patients without cancer have negative assays. There is additional consensus supporting that untreated patients with metastatic disease have positive assays. At least three groups have shown that RT-PCR assays of prostate-specific antigen mRNA provide unique prognostic information in the patients with clinically localized disease. There is continuing controversy of whether RT-PCR directed against any marker gene is of value in staging prostate cancer.