Unatoč činjenici da je rak prostate jedna od najsmrtonosnijih malignih bolesti muškaraca učinak testiranja muškaraca putem antigena specifičnog za prostatu (PSA) na smrtnost od raka prostate je dvojben. Europska randomizirana studija probira za karcinom prostate (ERSPC) pokazala je redukciju smrtnosti specifične za karcinom za 27% nakon 13 godina praćenja u korist probira. Nasuprot tomu američka studija US Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian cancer screening trial (PLCO) nije pokazala redukciju mortaliteta u skupini podvrgnutoj probiru. Neovisno o učinku na smrtnost, povoljni rezultati probira raka prostate uključuju veći broj bolesnika s lokaliziranom bolešću i povećanje broja dobro diferenciranih tumora. Međutim, rizik od pretjeranog dijagnosticiranja indolentne bolesti i posljedičnoga pretjeranog liječenja te njegova utjecaja na kvalitetu života argumenti su protiv probira. Suvremene spoznaje nalažu preispitivanje dosadašnjih preporuka uporabe PSA.In spite of the fact that prostate cancer is one of the deadliest malignancies in men, the effect of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening on prostate cancer mortality remains debated. The European Randomized Study of Screening for Prostate Cancer (ERSPC) demonstrated a statistically significant 27% decrease in prostate cancer-specific mortality after 13 years of follow-up in screened vs. Unscreened men. In contrast, the prostate arm of the US Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial (PLCO) found no benefit from screening. Irrespective of mortality impact, favourable results from prostate cancer screening include an increasing number of men with localised disease and an increase in the number of well-differentiated tumours. However, the risk of overdiagnosis and subsequent overtreatment, including its effects on the quality of life, offers arguments against screening. The present knowledge requires a review of the previous recommendations on the use of PSA
