3 or more PSA tests over 2 years yield favorable outcomes in prostate cancer treatment

A study has found that individuals who undergo PSA (prostate-specific antigen) testing at least three times over a two-year period have a higher likelihood of early prostate cancer diagnosis compared to those who do not. This also increases the possibility of treating the cancer with local therapy alone, potentially reducing long-term healthcare costs.

Professor Ko Young-hwi of the Department of Urology at Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital presented this result in his study, “Impact of repeated prostate-specific antigen testing on management patterns and personal healthcare spending for prostate cancer,” during the 2025 East Asia Urological Oncology Society (EAUOS 2025) from last Thursday to Friday at Hotel Samjung in Seoul.

This study conducted a cohort analysis of 166,848 prostate cancer patients from national health insurance data between 2010 and 2020, comparing treatment outcomes between those who underwent PSA testing at least three times over two years and those who did not.

The results showed that patients who underwent PSA testing at least three times over a two-year period had a higher rate of local treatments, including surgery and radiation. In contrast, those who did not undergo repeated PSA testing showed a higher dependence on systemic treatments like hormone therapy and androgen receptor targeted therapies, resulting in higher related costs and longer treatment durations.

This demonstrates that regular PSA testing increases the likelihood of early prostate cancer detection, potentially leading to a less complex cancer treatment process compared to those who do not undergo such testing.

“This study confirms that differences in early detection and treatment pathways for prostate cancer can impact long-term healthcare costs,” Professor Ko said. “I hope this evidence will persuade health authorities during the national screening program development process, enabling more citizens to benefit from screening.”

The National Prostate Cancer Screening Task Force of the Korean Urological Association plans to utilize these research findings as a key argument for the necessity of national prostate cancer screening.

Professor Ko received the Outstanding Oral Presentation Award at the EAUOS 2025 for this research.