NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - The largest prostate cancer screening program in the history of the United States is showing high compliance and consistent results, researchers report.

In addition, 3-year data from the program show that screening "consistently detected new cases of prostate cancer and that these became less and less aggressive as the screening program progressed," Dr. Gerald L. Andriole at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri, notes in a written statement.

The program is part of the National Cancer Institute's Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial. Findings from the first three annual follow-up screening rounds are published in BJU (British Journal of Urology) International.

According to the report, 38,349 men, aged 55 to 74 years old, were randomly assigned to be screened yearly for prostate cancer using the PSA (prostate specific antigen) blood test and digital rectal examinations.

Andriole and colleagues found that the majority of the men complied with the PSA and digital rectal exams - 89 percent complied with both tests at the start of the study and this figure was 85 percent by year three.

Overall, cancer was diagnosed in 1,902 men, or roughly 5 percent. Approximately one in seven men received either a positive PSA or digital rectal exam test result during screening.

"There has been much debate about the benefits of PSA screening in the United States," Andriole comments in a written statement.

"For example the American Cancer Society, the American Urological Association and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network recommend that normal risk men receive annual PSA screening with digital rectal examination from the age of 50. However, the US Preventative Services Task Force and the American College of Physicians - American Society of Internal Medicine do not recommend screening because they feel that clear benefits have not been demonstrated," Andriole explains.

The current research shows that compliance is high with both PSA and digital rectal examination screening. It also shows that screening detects new cases and that these cases become less aggressive over time.

Longer follow-up, Andriole and colleagues say, is needed to determine the extent to which screening actually reduces deaths due to prostate cancer.

SOURCE: BJU International, December 2008.

• More News on Health Screening
• More News on Prostate Cancer

Related MedlinePlus Pages:

• Health Screening
• Prostate Cancer