Update of the prostate, lung, colorectal, and ovarian cancer screening trial

Abstract

The prostate portion of the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian (PLCO) Cancer Screening Trial began in the early 1990s to assess the ability of annual PSA and DRE to reduce prostate cancer specific mortality in men aged 55-74. Approximately 80,000 men have been randomized and followed for a minimum of 13 years. Thus far, annual screening in this study has not been associated with a reduction of prostate cancer specific mortality. The potential explanations for this finding are reviewed. © 2014 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.