Serum Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate Usage for Early Detection of Prostate Cancer in Men with Serum Prostate Specific Antigen Level between 2.5 and 4.0 ng/ml: A Pilot Study

Aims: We prospectively evaluated the diagnostic value of serum prostate specific antigen (PSA)-based diagnostic parameters and serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) level for early detection of prostate cancer in patients with serum PSA level between 2.5 and 4 ng/ml.Materials and Methods: This study included 83 consecutive men with serum PSA levels between 2.5 and 4.0 ng/ml. All patients underwent transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate needle biopsy. Total PSA level,free/total PSA ratio, PSA density of the total volume (PSAD-TV), PSA density of the transition zone (PSADTZ),and serum DHEAS values were determined.Results: Seventy-four patients (89.2%) had histopathologically confirmed benign prostatic hyperplasia and the remaining (10.8%) had prostate cancer. DHEAS was a significant predictor of prostate cancer compared to free/total PSA ratio, PSAD-TV and PSAD-TZ (PDHEAS = 0.012, Pfree/total PSA = 0.326, PPSAD-TV = 0.884, PPSAD-TZ= 0.203). If the cut-off point of DHEAS was considered 1,700 ng/ml, sensitivity and specificity of DHEAS were100% and 59.4%, respectively. This cut-off point might lead to avoiding 40.9% of unnecessary prostatebiopsies.Conclusions: Serum DHEAS seems to be a reasonable marker for early detection of prostate cancer and can avoid unnecessary prostate biopsy in patients whose serum PSA level is between 2.5 and 4 ng/ml.