Mitchell Benson, MD

Reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology can detect small numbers of cells expressing prostate-specific antigen (PSA), even when these cells are extensively diluted in a population of non-PSA expressing cells. The assay was applied to a cohort of more than 200 patients who were candidates for radical prostatectomy based on diagnostic tests that predicted that the prostate cancer was localized to the prostate gland. In this group, a positive RT-PCR test correlated significantly with early metastatic spread of prostate cancer. [Oncol News Int 6(Suppl 3):11-12, 1997]