FDA approves test for prostatic cancer

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last month approved a blood test for prostate specific antigen as an early test for prostatic cancer in men over 50 when combined with digital rectal examination. The test was first approved by the FDA in 1986 to monitor progress in patients already diagnosed as having prostatic cancer. The current approval expands the use to include helping to diagnose the disease.

“This test - used with other procedures - can help detect those men at risk of prostatic cancer early on, when more treatment options are available,” said FDA commissioner Dr David Kessler, “but for the test …