Radical Prostatectomy (removal of the
prostate) or radiation therapy provide excellent outcomes for patients with localized (confined to one area) disease, yet there is still no effective treatment once the disease has spread beyond the
prostate gland. Typically, a serum PSA test is done to diagnose
prostate cancer. Following diagnosis, a
prostate biopsy and other tests help to classify the patient's disease according to the likelihood of a recurrence. However, these assessments are imperfect. There is a need to identify and evaluate
prostate biomarkers that will provide exact information regarding the likelihood of a recurrence (prediction) of
prostate cancer.