Early prostate cancer antigen-2
Encyclopedia
Early prostate cancer antigen-2 (EPCA-2) is a protein
of which blood levels are elevated in prostate cancer
. It appears to provide more accuracy in identifying early prostate cancer than the standard prostate cancer marker, PSA
.
"EPCA-2" is not the name of a gene. EPCA-2 gets its name because it is the second prostate cancer marker identified by the research team. This earlier marker was previously known as "EPCA", but is now called "EPCA-1".
Leman, Getzenberg and colleagues describe, in the April 2007 issue of Urology, the performance characteristic of EPCA-2, a novel nuclear protein marker for prostate cancer cells.
A study was initiated which suggested that the EPCA-2 protein serum assay exhibits favorable performance characteristics which are potentially superior to serum PSA. However more studies are necessary to see if this test will retain its sensitivity when used in a screening population.
In September 2008 the industry sponsor of EPCA-2, Onconome sued Dr Robert Getzenberghttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed&Cmd=Search&Term=%22Getzenberg%20RH%22, JHU, and the University of Pittsburgh, his previous institution, claiming that Getzenberg misrepresented and falsified data related to EPCA-2 after Onconome sponsored 13 million dollars of research over five years in Getzenberg's labs at University of Pittsburgh and Johns Hopkins for a blood test for prostate cancer. Onconome claimed that the test was "essentially as reliable as flipping a coin."Robert H. Getzenberg (Ph.D-JHU 1992), first developed EPCA-2 as a graduate student at Johns Hopkinshttp://urology.jhu.edu/newsletter/prostate_cancer_discovery_91.php and later as a faculty member at University of Pittsburgh. He is currently a professor of Urology and the Director of Research of the James Buchanan Brady Urological Institute at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
Protein
Proteins are biochemical compounds consisting of one or more polypeptides typically folded into a globular or fibrous form, facilitating a biological function. A polypeptide is a single linear polymer chain of amino acids bonded together by peptide bonds between the carboxyl and amino groups of...
of which blood levels are elevated in prostate cancer
Prostate cancer
Prostate cancer is a form of cancer that develops in the prostate, a gland in the male reproductive system. Most prostate cancers are slow growing; however, there are cases of aggressive prostate cancers. The cancer cells may metastasize from the prostate to other parts of the body, particularly...
. It appears to provide more accuracy in identifying early prostate cancer than the standard prostate cancer marker, PSA
Prostate specific antigen
Prostate-specific antigen also known as gamma-seminoprotein or kallikrein-3 is a glycoprotein that in humans is encoded by the KLK3 gene. KLK3 is a member of the kallikrein-related peptidase family that are secreted by the epithelial cells of the prostate gland...
.
"EPCA-2" is not the name of a gene. EPCA-2 gets its name because it is the second prostate cancer marker identified by the research team. This earlier marker was previously known as "EPCA", but is now called "EPCA-1".
EPCA-2 versus PSA
The steady decrease in prostate cancer mortality is indirect evidence that the early detection using serum PSA and rectal examination saves lives. However using serum PSA in screening for prostate cancer remains controversial, because of its low specificity.Leman, Getzenberg and colleagues describe, in the April 2007 issue of Urology, the performance characteristic of EPCA-2, a novel nuclear protein marker for prostate cancer cells.
A study was initiated which suggested that the EPCA-2 protein serum assay exhibits favorable performance characteristics which are potentially superior to serum PSA. However more studies are necessary to see if this test will retain its sensitivity when used in a screening population.
In September 2008 the industry sponsor of EPCA-2, Onconome sued Dr Robert Getzenberghttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed&Cmd=Search&Term=%22Getzenberg%20RH%22, JHU, and the University of Pittsburgh, his previous institution, claiming that Getzenberg misrepresented and falsified data related to EPCA-2 after Onconome sponsored 13 million dollars of research over five years in Getzenberg's labs at University of Pittsburgh and Johns Hopkins for a blood test for prostate cancer. Onconome claimed that the test was "essentially as reliable as flipping a coin."Robert H. Getzenberg (Ph.D-JHU 1992), first developed EPCA-2 as a graduate student at Johns Hopkinshttp://urology.jhu.edu/newsletter/prostate_cancer_discovery_91.php and later as a faculty member at University of Pittsburgh. He is currently a professor of Urology and the Director of Research of the James Buchanan Brady Urological Institute at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.