Evaluating ethnic differences in Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) for detecting prostate cancer in primary care
- Principal Investigator: Sarah Bailey
- 1 September 2021 to 28 February 2022
- Project No: 511
- Funding round: FR1
Men from black and minority ethnic backgrounds are more likely to develop prostate cancer and more likely to get very ill or die from their cancer, compared to the white majority. Finding ways to spot prostate cancer in these men earlier is one way that this gap can be reduced.
General Practitioners (GPs) can use a prostate specific antigen (PSA) test, which is measured with a standard blood test, when they see men with symptoms that might relate to a prostate cancer. If the PSA is high, this might indicate the man has a prostate cancer that has not been picked up yet, and they are usually sent to hospital for more tests. This could be an MRI scan or a prostate biopsy.
Studies have found that men from different ethnic groups have different ‘normal’ and ‘abnormal’ levels of PSA. These differences are not currently considered in guidance for doctors when trying to understand the results of a PSA test.
Our team has studied blood tests and their usefulness in finding cancer extensively. In this study, we want to find out how best to use the PSA test to help GPs find prostate cancer earlier in people from minority ethnic backgrounds.
Co-applicant
Tanimola Martins
Amount awarded: £30,506