Future Aspects of Prostate Biopsy – The Use of Primary Circulating Prostate Cells to Select Patients for Prostate Biopsy: Evidence, Utility and Cost-Benefit

At present the indications for a prostate biopsy are an abnormal digital rectal examination (DRE) and /or an increased serum PSA. However, the sensibility and specificity varies with race and the cut-off point used to indicate a biopsy. In the Finnish population, using a cutoff point of 3ng/ml and 4ng/ml the sensibility was 89% and 87% respectively (Auvienen, 2004), in Russia using a cutoff point of 4ng/ml the sensibility and specificity were 92% and 63% respectively Although a PSA level of 4 ng/ml is used as a cut-off point, 22% www.intechopen.com Prostate Biopsy