According to the
Prostate Cancer Foundation, prostate cancer is the most common non-skin cancer
in America, affecting 1 in 6 men. The older you are, the more likely
you are to be diagnosed with prostate cancer. Although only 1 in 10,000 under age
40 will be diagnosed, the rate shoots up to 1 in 39 for ages 40 to 59, and 1 in
14 for ages 60 to 69. In fact, more than 65% of all prostate cancers are diagnosed
in men over the age of 65.
Development and progression of the disease is monitored using a prostate specific
antigen (PSA) test. Once patients are diagnosed, there are several options: active
surveillance, radiation therapy, or prostatectomy. These options are based on the
likelihood the tumor will become metastatic and spread. However, predicting the
likelihood of metastasis is difficult.
Through a collaboration with the University of Michigan, Metabolon has discovered
several biochemical biomarkers which can distinguish normal patients with benign
prostate cancer from patients with metastatic cancer. These results are being incorporated
into Metabolon's Prostarix ™ diagnostic test for cancer metastasis.