New type of test for PSA: Prostate Screening EpiSwitch (PSE) test

Any experience or insights regarding this new test? Could be a game changer…
”only 25% of elevated PSAs are cancerous.”
https://www.technologynetworks.com/genomics/news/new-blood-test-for-prostate-cancer-is-94-accurate-370022

@joem, bens1 was discussing the PSE just last week https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/pse-test-for-prostate-cancer-before-an-mri-and-for-re-occurrence/

Joe , In Canada we are starting to experiment with a "spit test type PSA test " . Is this the one yoru talking about . Its quite accurate I hear and no needle ! Have you heard of this one ? James

No, PSE is a newish proprietary approach that combines a regular PSA test with an epigenetic test to show if certain cancer-related markers show up in the bloodstream. The idea is that the epigenetic test refines the PSA test and reduces false positives for screening in the general population.

For those of us who've already been biopsied and know we have cancer, I'm not sure the epigenetic part adds any value (as @jeffmarc has pointed out, the genetic markers *should* be there anyway), but it's early days, and I'm still reading and learning.

In the meantime, once one has had radiation therapy or a prostatectomy, the PSA test alone — especially the ultrasensitive one that many of us get — increases its value for detecting possible recurrence. Normally, most PSA comes from the prostate, so an elevated PSA when the prostate has been removed or radiated indicates that something else (i.e. cancer) is likely producing it.

The literature reports a few cases of prostate cancer progressing while PSA is still low-ish (e.g. < 2.0), but personally I haven't yet read of progression when PSA is < 0.01 on the ultrasensitive test.

Actually @northoftheborder The literature reports a few cases of prostate cancer progressing while PSA is still low-ish (e.g. < 2.0),

I’ve seen a couple of articles that have warned there can be progression even though the PSA is very low.

Here is one of them from the arches study
https://dailynews.ascopubs.org/do/arches-analysis-underscores-importance-regular-imaging-detect-progression-patients
This really worries me since a PSMA pet test isn’t gonna work well if you’re PSA is < .1. But there can be radiographic progression which can be seen in the CT scans and bone scans. That’s why I get those scans yearly even though my PSA is undetectable.

They’re also the 10% of people that don’t produce PSMA so the PSMA Pet test doesn’t work for them. And then there’s those with neuroendocrine prostate cancer that can’t be seen by the PSMA pet test either. PSA can be undetectable for these groups, but progression is occurring.

I think we wrote the same thing. 🙂

Me: "The literature reports a few cases of prostate cancer progressing while PSA is still low-ish (e.g. < 2.0), but personally I haven't yet read of progression when PSA is < 0.01 on the ultrasensitive test."

You: "Actually @northoftheborder The literature reports a few cases of prostate cancer progressing while PSA is still low-ish (e.g. < 2.0), "

Have you read of any cases of progression with PSA < 0.01? I haven't yet, but I'm keeping my eyes open.

The article you linked is interested: it mentions that the -lutamides can suppress PSA even in cases when cancer might be progressing, but it mentions only "quite low" and "nadir" vaguely, not fully undetectable PSA specifically. It would be interesting to know if any of those cases involved undetectable on the uPSA test.

Another study did talk about the fact that with your PSA undetectable it can grow. I didn’t save that article unfortunately. That arches study did have people with very low PSAs.

Yeah, I do wonder if with a < .01 if it can still occur.

DOES ANYONE KNOW WHERE THIS CAN BE COMPLETED ANY WHERE NEAR SARASOTA FLORIDA?

Proadvisor1
Thank you very much for your interest in the EpiSwitch® PSE Prostate Cancer Detection test. In response to your inquiry, the test must be ordered by a licensed healthcare provider (i.e., medical doctor, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant) who agrees to order it for you. Please see the suggested steps below, and if you have additional questions, please include them in a response to this message.

1. Request an EpiSwitch Specimen Submission kit for PSE testing by sending your name, address, and phone number in a reply to this message.

2. Print the EpiSwitch PSE Test Requisition Form (see attached).

3. During an appointment with your relative’s healthcare provider, bring the EpiSwitch PSE test requisition form and specimen submission kit to the appointment to discuss the test. The test requisition form requires completion by your ordering provider, and if you are using medical insurance for billing, the second page should be read and retained by you (Financial Policies Summary). A blood specimen must be collected for EpiSwitch PSE testing (detailed instructions).

4. Your relative’s ordering healthcare provider can submit the completed EpiSwitch PSE test requisition form kit with a copy of your medical insurance information via fax to +1 240-913-5681.

5. The specimen, order form and medical insurance information should be packaged following the instructions enclosed in the kit.

6. The specimen is shipped in the kit using the FedEx pre-paid return service packaging.

Please visit our website https://www.94percent.com for more information about the test
Doug Smith Clinical Customer Service Representative
douglass.smith@oxfordbiodynamics.com
http://www.myOBDX.com
US Clinical Customer Service
+1 888 236 8896Fax:
+1 240 913 5681
7495 New Horizon Way, Ste 110, Frederick, MD 21703, US

proadvisor1, your doctor has to order the test. Episwitch sends him, or you a box with instructions for a phlebotomist. You have to locate a phlebotomist in a private office. Some services will send a phelobotomist to your residence. Lab Corp and Quest won't do the draws. Then the lab sends your blood back to EpiSwitch.