Nelson Vergel
Founder, ExcelMale.com
The recent development of an 18-gene urine test, known as MyProstateScore 2.0 (MPS2), represents a significant advancement in the detection of high-grade prostate cancer. This test has demonstrated higher diagnostic accuracy compared to existing biomarker tests and has the potential to reduce unnecessary biopsies and other invasive procedures.
### Key Features and Findings
1. **Gene Markers**:
- The MPS2 test incorporates 18 genes, including 17 markers uniquely overexpressed by high-grade prostate cancers (Grade Group 2 or higher) and one reference gene, KLK3. These markers include high-grade cancer-specific genes (APOC1, B3GNT6, NKAIN1, SCHLAP1), cancer-specific genes (PCGEM1, SPON2, TRGV9, PCA3, OR51E2, CAMKK2, TFF3, PCAT14, TMSB15A), and curated markers (HOXC6, ERG, TMPRSS2:ERG, KLK4)[1][2][3].
2. **Diagnostic Accuracy**:
- The MPS2 test has shown an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.81 to 0.82, significantly higher than other tests such as PSA alone (0.60), the Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial risk calculator (0.66), and the Prostate Health Index (0.77)[1][5][11].
- The test demonstrated a negative predictive value (NPV) of 95% to 99% for cancers of Grade Group 2 or higher and 99% for Grade Group 3 or higher, indicating a high level of accuracy in ruling out aggressive cancers[3][11].
3. **Reduction in Unnecessary Biopsies**:
- The use of MPS2 could reduce unnecessary biopsies by 35% to 42% in the initial biopsy population and by 46% to 51% in the repeat biopsy population, compared to 15% to 30% reductions with other biomarker tests[1][3][11].
4. **Clinical Implications**:
- The test is particularly useful for patients with elevated PSA levels, helping to distinguish between aggressive cancers that require immediate treatment and slow-growing cancers that can be monitored[4][6][10].
- It provides a non-invasive alternative to more burdensome tests like MRI and biopsy, which can be invasive and carry risks of complications[4][6][8].
5. **Validation and Study Cohorts**:
- The MPS2 test was validated using a cohort of 743 men with a median age of 62 years and a median PSA level of 5.6 ng/mL. The validation study confirmed the test's effectiveness in accurately detecting high-grade prostate cancers[1][2][5].
6. **Limitations and Future Research**:
- One limitation noted is the underrepresentation of non-White ethnic groups in the validation cohort, with only 12.8% of participants identifying as Black. Further studies are being conducted to ensure the test's applicability across diverse populations[10][12].
### Conclusion
The MyProstateScore 2.0 (MPS2) test represents a promising tool in the early detection and management of high-grade prostate cancer. Its high diagnostic accuracy and ability to reduce unnecessary biopsies make it a valuable addition to current prostate cancer screening protocols. Further research and validation in more diverse populations will be essential to fully realize its potential benefits.
Sources
[1] Novel 18-Gene Urine Test Better Detects Clinically Significant ... Novel 18-Gene Urine Test Better Detects Clinically Significant Prostate Cancer
[2] Development and Validation of an 18-Gene Urine Test for High ... Development and Validation of an 18-Gene Urine Test for High-Grade Prostate Cancer
[3] Urine Test Accurately Detected High-Grade Prostate Cancer Urine Test Accurately Detected High-Grade Prostate Cancer
[4] Urine test identifies high-risk prostate cancers Urine test identifies high-risk prostate cancers
[5] New Prostate Cancer Urine Test Produces Greater Diagnostic ... New Prostate Cancer Urine Test Produces Greater Diagnostic Accuracy vs Existing Tests in High-Grade Prostate Cancer
[6] New urine test has higher diagnostic accuracy for prostate cancer New urine test has higher diagnostic accuracy for prostate cancer - VUMC News
[7] The Cost Implications of Prostate Cancer Screening in the Medicare ... The Cost Implications of Prostate Cancer Screening in the Medicare Population
[8] New urine test may help some men with elevated PSA avoid biopsy New urine test may help some men with elevated PSA avoid biopsy - Harvard Health
[9] Development and Validation of an 18-Gene Urine Test for High ... Development and Validation of an 18-Gene Urine Test for High-Grade Prostate Cancer - PubMed
[10] An Improved Prostate Cancer Biomarker Test May Help Men Avoid ... An Improved Prostate Cancer Biomarker Test May Help Men Avoid Unnecessary Biopsy
[11] 18-gene urine test may reduce unnecessary prostate biopsies 18-gene urine test may reduce unnecessary prostate biopsies
[12] New Urine Test for Prostate Cancer May Help Reduce Unnecessary ... Prostate Cancer: New Urine Test May Help Reduce Unnecessary Biopsies
[13] New urine-based test detects high grade prostate cancer, helping ... New urine-based test detects high grade prostate cancer, helping men avoid unnecessary biopsies
[14] New urine-based test detects high grade prostate cancer, helping ... New urine-based test detects high grade prostate cancer, helping men avoid unnecessary biopsies
[15] 18-Gene Urine Test for Prostate Cancer to Help Avoid Unnecessary ... 18-Gene Urine Test for Prostate Cancer to Help Avoid Unnecessary Biopsies
[16] Multigene Urine Test for High-Grade Prostate Cancer Validated in ... Multigene Urine Test for High-Grade Prostate Cancer Validated in Clinical Study
[17] Urine test shown to help as many as half of patients with Gleason 3+ ... https://howardwolinsky.substack.com/p/urine-test-shown-to-help-as-many
[18] Development and Validation of an 18-Gene Urine Test for High ... Development and Validation of an 18-Gene Urine Test for High-Grade Prostate Cancer
### Key Features and Findings
1. **Gene Markers**:
- The MPS2 test incorporates 18 genes, including 17 markers uniquely overexpressed by high-grade prostate cancers (Grade Group 2 or higher) and one reference gene, KLK3. These markers include high-grade cancer-specific genes (APOC1, B3GNT6, NKAIN1, SCHLAP1), cancer-specific genes (PCGEM1, SPON2, TRGV9, PCA3, OR51E2, CAMKK2, TFF3, PCAT14, TMSB15A), and curated markers (HOXC6, ERG, TMPRSS2:ERG, KLK4)[1][2][3].
2. **Diagnostic Accuracy**:
- The MPS2 test has shown an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.81 to 0.82, significantly higher than other tests such as PSA alone (0.60), the Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial risk calculator (0.66), and the Prostate Health Index (0.77)[1][5][11].
- The test demonstrated a negative predictive value (NPV) of 95% to 99% for cancers of Grade Group 2 or higher and 99% for Grade Group 3 or higher, indicating a high level of accuracy in ruling out aggressive cancers[3][11].
3. **Reduction in Unnecessary Biopsies**:
- The use of MPS2 could reduce unnecessary biopsies by 35% to 42% in the initial biopsy population and by 46% to 51% in the repeat biopsy population, compared to 15% to 30% reductions with other biomarker tests[1][3][11].
4. **Clinical Implications**:
- The test is particularly useful for patients with elevated PSA levels, helping to distinguish between aggressive cancers that require immediate treatment and slow-growing cancers that can be monitored[4][6][10].
- It provides a non-invasive alternative to more burdensome tests like MRI and biopsy, which can be invasive and carry risks of complications[4][6][8].
5. **Validation and Study Cohorts**:
- The MPS2 test was validated using a cohort of 743 men with a median age of 62 years and a median PSA level of 5.6 ng/mL. The validation study confirmed the test's effectiveness in accurately detecting high-grade prostate cancers[1][2][5].
6. **Limitations and Future Research**:
- One limitation noted is the underrepresentation of non-White ethnic groups in the validation cohort, with only 12.8% of participants identifying as Black. Further studies are being conducted to ensure the test's applicability across diverse populations[10][12].
### Conclusion
The MyProstateScore 2.0 (MPS2) test represents a promising tool in the early detection and management of high-grade prostate cancer. Its high diagnostic accuracy and ability to reduce unnecessary biopsies make it a valuable addition to current prostate cancer screening protocols. Further research and validation in more diverse populations will be essential to fully realize its potential benefits.
Sources
[1] Novel 18-Gene Urine Test Better Detects Clinically Significant ... Novel 18-Gene Urine Test Better Detects Clinically Significant Prostate Cancer
[2] Development and Validation of an 18-Gene Urine Test for High ... Development and Validation of an 18-Gene Urine Test for High-Grade Prostate Cancer
[3] Urine Test Accurately Detected High-Grade Prostate Cancer Urine Test Accurately Detected High-Grade Prostate Cancer
[4] Urine test identifies high-risk prostate cancers Urine test identifies high-risk prostate cancers
[5] New Prostate Cancer Urine Test Produces Greater Diagnostic ... New Prostate Cancer Urine Test Produces Greater Diagnostic Accuracy vs Existing Tests in High-Grade Prostate Cancer
[6] New urine test has higher diagnostic accuracy for prostate cancer New urine test has higher diagnostic accuracy for prostate cancer - VUMC News
[7] The Cost Implications of Prostate Cancer Screening in the Medicare ... The Cost Implications of Prostate Cancer Screening in the Medicare Population
[8] New urine test may help some men with elevated PSA avoid biopsy New urine test may help some men with elevated PSA avoid biopsy - Harvard Health
[9] Development and Validation of an 18-Gene Urine Test for High ... Development and Validation of an 18-Gene Urine Test for High-Grade Prostate Cancer - PubMed
[10] An Improved Prostate Cancer Biomarker Test May Help Men Avoid ... An Improved Prostate Cancer Biomarker Test May Help Men Avoid Unnecessary Biopsy
[11] 18-gene urine test may reduce unnecessary prostate biopsies 18-gene urine test may reduce unnecessary prostate biopsies
[12] New Urine Test for Prostate Cancer May Help Reduce Unnecessary ... Prostate Cancer: New Urine Test May Help Reduce Unnecessary Biopsies
[13] New urine-based test detects high grade prostate cancer, helping ... New urine-based test detects high grade prostate cancer, helping men avoid unnecessary biopsies
[14] New urine-based test detects high grade prostate cancer, helping ... New urine-based test detects high grade prostate cancer, helping men avoid unnecessary biopsies
[15] 18-Gene Urine Test for Prostate Cancer to Help Avoid Unnecessary ... 18-Gene Urine Test for Prostate Cancer to Help Avoid Unnecessary Biopsies
[16] Multigene Urine Test for High-Grade Prostate Cancer Validated in ... Multigene Urine Test for High-Grade Prostate Cancer Validated in Clinical Study
[17] Urine test shown to help as many as half of patients with Gleason 3+ ... https://howardwolinsky.substack.com/p/urine-test-shown-to-help-as-many
[18] Development and Validation of an 18-Gene Urine Test for High ... Development and Validation of an 18-Gene Urine Test for High-Grade Prostate Cancer