Change of Serum Prostate-specific Antigen with Age in Korean Men / 대한비뇨기과학회지

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Prostate-specific antigen(PSA) is believed to be the most useful tumor marker available for prostate cancer. Our intension was to establish the normal pattern of PSA changes with age and initial PSA to provide baseline data from which disease progression might be detected. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients, who received serum PSA screening test more than twice, between January 1997 and December 2005, at the health center of Asan Medical Center, were selected for this investigation. The PSA levels of 27,439 adult males, aged between 20 and 79 years, with no known prostate disease, were determined using the Tandem-R PSA assay (Hybritech). The PSA values were determined at the baseline and after 1 to 8 years. To estimate the increase in the level of serum PSA according to age, a one-way ANOVA test was carried out. Every change in an individual's PSA level was compiled to plot curves of the PSA according to the initial age and initial PSA. The PSA doubling times were also calculated with different PSA values at different ages. RESULTS: The mean PSA levels according to age steadily increased, and were directly correlated with age(p<0.001). These increases were greater for those in their fifties and most severe after their sixties. The future PSA and doubling time of an individual can be predicted based on his age and known history of PSA. CONCLUSIONS: The model indicates the expected rises in the PSA level in relation to age and the PSA doubling times in healthy Korean men. This will provide baseline data from which disease progression might be detected.