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Badrinath R Konety

All articles from this author are listed below.

Volume 8, Number 4 Review Articles

Diagnostic Utility of the ImmunoCyt/uCyt+ Test in Bladder Cancer

Diagnostic Update

Badrinath R Konety Anna Berry Kirsten L Greene

Bladder cancer is a common malignancy in the United States. Although urine cytology is a useful adjunct in both diagnosis and follow-up and is highly sensitive for detecting high-grade tumors, it is limited by decreased sensitivity in detecting low-grade tumors, which constitute the majority of new diagnoses. Additional screening tests with high sensitivity and specificity for urothelial tumors of all grades are indicated to help improve the diagnostic ability of urine cytology as well as to reduce the need for frequent cystoscopies, especially in those with low-risk disease. Several assays have been developed, with the ImmunoCyt/uCyt test (DiagnoCure, Inc., Québec, Canada) being especially promising. Recent studies on the applicability and efficacy of ImmunoCyt/uCyt testing are reviewed, as are its sensitivity, specificity, and predictive value in the follow-up and screening of urothelial malignancies. [Rev Urol. 2006;8(4):190-197]

Bladder cancer Cystoscopy ImmunoCyt/uCyttest Urothelial malignancies

Volume 17, Number 4 Original Research

The 4Kscore® Test Reduces Prostate Biopsy Rates in Community and Academic Urology Practices

Jason Hafron Stephen M Zappala Dipen J Parekh Danielle Osterhout Jeffrey Schock Randy M Chudler Gregory M Oldford Kenneth M Kernen Badrinath R Konety

There is significant concern regarding prostate cancer screening because of the potential for overdiagnosis and overtreatment of men who are discovered to have abnormal prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels and/or digital rectal examination (DRE) results. The 4Kscore® Test (OPKO Diagnostics, LLC) is a blood test that utilizes four kallikrein levels plus clinical information in an algorithm to calculate an individual’s percentage risk (< 1% to > 95%) for aggressive prostate cancer (Gleason score ≥ 7) on prostate biopsy. The 4Kscore Test, as a follow-up test after abnormal PSA and/or DRE test results, has been shown to improve the specificity for predicting the risk of aggressive prostate cancer and reduce unnecessary prostate biopsies. A clinical utility study was conducted to assess the influence of the 4Kscore Test on the decision to perform prostate biopsies in men referred to urologists for abnormal PSA and/or DRE results. The study population included 611 patients seen by 35 academic and community urologists in the United States. Urologists ordered the 4Kscore Test as part of their assessment of men referred for abnormal PSA and/or DRE test results. Results for the patients were stratified into low risk (< 7.5%), intermediate risk (7.5%-19.9%), and high risk (≥ 20%) for aggressive prostate cancer. The 4Kscore Test results influenced biopsy decisions in 88.7% of the men. Performing the 4Kscore Test resulted in a 64.6% reduction in prostate biopsies in patients; the actual percentage of cases not proceeding to biopsy were 94.0%, 52.9%, and 19.0% for men who had low-, intermediate-, and high-risk 4Kscore Test results, respectively. A higher 4Kscore Test was associated with greater likelihood of having a prostate biopsy (P < 0.001). Among the 171 patients who had a biopsy, the 4Kscore risk category is strongly associated with biopsy pathology. The 4Kscore Test, as a follow-up test for an abnormal PSA and/or DRE results, significantly influenced the physician and patient shared decision in clinical practice, which led to a reduction in prostate biopsies while increasing the probability of detecting aggressive cancer. [Rev Urol. 2015;17(4):231-240 doi: 10.3909/riu0699] © 2016 MedReviews®, LLC

Prostate cancer Prostate-specific antigen 4Kscore Gleason score Digital rectal examination Biopsy rate Prostate cancer prognosis