ERSPC, PLCO studies and critique of cochrane review 2013

Screening for prostate cancer by use of serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) remains controversial. In the recent Cochrane analysis, an attempt is made to clarify the issue by conducting a meta analysis of available randomized screening trials. Two large trials are considered to provide data of similar and sufficient quality to conduct a separate meta analysis. However, in the view of this author, this analysis fails because standard Cochrand quality criteria are not observed. Details are given and the outcome suggests that one of the trials, the European Randomized Study of Screening for Prostate Cancer (ERSPC) should be considered superior to the Prostate, Lung, Colon, Ovary screening trial (PLCO) conducted in the USA.

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