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Kag

02/16/06 10:53 AM

#2220 RE: bocxman #2219

A few Google searches on the PSA test reveals sufficient reason why Abbott would want to replace it with something better ASAP. (Do not be discouraged by the articles I have furnished the links to. What this likely means is that Abbott is keenly aware that the PSA test is on its last legs, and Abbott's work on the RECAF technology is likely occurring at warp speed.) The PSA test is an inexpensive test because there is no patent. Reading the rest of this post, and all of the press release in the cited link, is an eye opener.

"In recent years, the scientific community increasingly has questioned the accuracy of PSA screening, which was introduced 17 years ago and has significant limitations."

"First, because the antigen is specific for prostate tissue, not prostate cancer, an elevated PSA does not always indicate prostate cancer. Only 25% of patients found to be positive (>4.0 ng/ml) by PSA screening will be confirmed by a biopsy to have cancer. As a result, urologists must decide whether to conduct another biopsy or additional PSA tests in pursuit of an adequate diagnosis, or to delay follow-up, potentially allowing an undiagnosed tumor to grow unchecked. Furthermore, many prostate cancer experts now advocate an even lower PSA threshold for biopsy in an effort to detect more cancers. This lower threshold, however, would significantly increase the number of expensive and uncomfortable biopsies, many of which would be negative."

"Second, because not all prostate cancers release high levels of antigen into the blood, routine PSA screening often fails to detect clinically significant cancers. These "false negative" results can lead to delayed detection, which reduces the chance that treatment will be effective once the diagnosis has been made."

Here is the link to the above quoted material: http://www.gen-probe.com/news/press_detail.asp?key=62

Here is another important link (below) for BOCX investors and an interesting quote from the article: http://money.canoe.ca/News/Sectors/BiotechnologyHealth/2006/01/08/1384647-cp.html
"A breakthrough came last June when British pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline opted to use PCA3 to test up to 6,800 patients enrolled in a clinical trials in 37 countries, rather than use the PSA test."

Dr. Ablin, who identified the prostate-specific antigen (PSA)which led to the development of the PSA test, recently stated the following: "80% of men who have elevated PSA don't have cancer; 40% of men with cancer have normal PSA; and 23 to 35% who have a positive digital rectal exam have normal PSA."