Prostate cancer: A challenge for screening.
Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer related death in men over the age of 50 in the United States today. The serum prostate specific antigen has the highest predictive value of any diagnostic test for prostate cancer. Highly screened communities have realized an impressive downward stage migration, younger average age at detection, and an improved five-year survival rate. These improvements are necessary components for any successful screening program.