Northwestern University researchers said their new system has been able to detect previously undetectable levels of prostate-specific antigen in patients who have undergone radical prostatectomy.
The researchers said the technology -- which uses the nanoparticle-based bio-barcode assay developed at Northwestern -- can easily and quickly detect very low levels of PSA and may enable doctors to diagnose men with prostate cancer recurrence years earlier than currently possible.
"We have defined a new zero for PSA," said Professor Chad Mirkin. "This level of sensitivity in detecting low concentrations of PSA will take the blinders off the medical community, especially when it comes to tracking residual disease."
The study appears in the online edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Copyright 2009 by United Press International.
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