健康英语新闻:Urine test may help predict prostate cancer

BEIJING, Aug 4 (Xinhuanet) – A new urine test might help doctors detect prostate cancer and better evaluate a patient's treatment options, according to American reseachers Thursday.

"This is a tool that men and their physician can use to help them decide whether it's appropriate to get a biopsy now or delay that decision," said lead researcher Dr. Scott Tomlins, a pathology resident at the University of Michigan Health System.

The test looks for two genetic markers associated with prostate cancer. The first, called TMPRSS2:ERG, is caused by two genes changing places and fusing together; it is thought to cause prostate cancer. Since the gene fusion is only seen in about half of cancer patients, the test also looks for another marker, called PCA3.

"We are exploiting some new bio-markers to try to refine the PSA (prostate-specific antigen) test," Tomlins said.