In May 2016, Dr. Jonathan Shoag with Drs. Mittal and Hu of Weill Cornell Medicine / NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital reported in the New England Journal of Medicine to demonstrate that the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian (PLCO) Cancer Screening Trial (which did not report a benefit of PSA screening) was severely flawed. This letter stated that "These clarifications should be considered by policymakers and payers debating reimbursement and meaningful use of PSA testing, particularly given the mounting evidence that intermittent PSA testing decreases the costs and harms of screening while preserving the benefits of annual testing."
Furthermore, in December 2016, a research team with Brady Urology’s Dr. Jonathan Shoag, Dr. Joshua Halpern and Dr. Jim Hu published a study in JAMA Oncology that demonstrated an increase in the incidence of distant metastases at diagnosis of prostate cancer in men, following the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force recommendation against PSA testing.
In April 2017, the USPSTF has issued a revision to the recommended guidelines for PSA testing for prostate cancer, favoring the role of screening by stating that "The decision about whether to be screened for prostate cancer should be an individual one" and should be discussed with your provider.
A national discussion, substantially fueled by the research findings of urologists at Weill Cornell Medicine / NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, has changed the official view U.S. view on PSA testing. We hope that this will make a positive impact on the lives of men everywhere, when facing prostate cancer or considering screening.
The Washington Post interviewed Dr. Jim Hu, Director of the LeFrak Center for Robotic Surgery, on the revised recommendations, and the state of PSA testing today: Learn More Here
