Incidence rates for localized- and regional-stage prostate cancer continued to decline 2 years following the recommendation by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force against prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing in all men.
“Convincing evidence demonstrates that the PSA test often produces false-positive results [and] false-positive PSA test results are associated with negative psychological effects, including persistent worry about prostate cancer,” the task force stated in a recommendation published in October 2011 and finalized in May 2012.
Dr. Ahmedin Jemal
From 2011 to 2012, immediately following the recommendation, there was a significant decline in early-stage cancer incidence rates among men 50 years or older, according to an analysis of data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program.
For the current study, Ahmedin Jemal, DVM, PhD, and his associates at the American Cancer Society analyzed incidence data for invasive prostate cancer from 18 SEER registries, which, combined, represented about 28% of the U.S. population.
Investigators reported a continued decline in localized- and regional-stage prostate cancer incidence from 2012 to 2013. Specifically, the incidence rates per 100,000 men decreased from 356.5 to 335.4 in men aged 50-74 years and from 379.2 to 353.6 in men 75 years and older (JAMA Oncol. 2016 Aug 16. doi: 10.1001/jamaoncol.2016.2667).
Incidence rates for distant-stage disease were unchanged during the same time period for men of all ages.
Similar results were reported for non-Hispanic whites and non-Hispanic blacks.
“Whether this pattern will lead to a future increase in the diagnosis of distant-stage disease and prostate cancer mortality requires long-term monitoring because of the slow growing nature of this malignant neoplasm,” the investigators noted.
The American Cancer Society funded the study. The authors had no relevant disclosures to report.
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