Prostatic Neoplasms: Sobue T

Hamashima C, Nakayama T, Sagawa M, Saito H, Sobue T. · Cancer Screening Assessment and Management Division, Research Center for Cancer Prevention and Screening, National Cancer Center, 5-1-1 Tsukiji Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0045, Japan. · Jpn J Clin Oncol. · Pubmed #19346535 No free full text.

Abstract: In 2005, there were 9264 deaths from prostate cancer, accounting for 4.7% of the total number of cancer deaths in Japan. As the population continues to age, interest in prostate cancer screening has increased, and opportunistic screening for prostate cancer has been conducted worldwide. The guideline for prostate cancer screening was developed based on the established method. The efficacies of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and digital rectal examination (DRE) were evaluated. Based on the balance of the benefits and harms, recommendations for population-based and opportunistic screening were formulated. Two methods of prostate cancer screening were evaluated. Based on the analytic framework involving key questions, 1186 articles published from January 1985 to October 2006 were selected using MEDLINE and other methods. After the systematic literature review, 28 articles were identified as providing evidence of mortality reduction from prostate cancer, including 5 observational studies for DRE screening, 1 meta-analysis, 3 randomized controlled trials and 19 observational studies for PSA screening. Although several studies showed that PSA screening had a beneficial effect, the results of the selected studies were inconsistent. Overall, the evidence that screening reduced mortality from prostate cancer was insufficient. Furthermore, prostate cancer screening is associated with serious harms, including overdiagnosis, adverse effects of needle biopsy and adverse effects of local prostatectomy. At present, the evidence for the effect of prostate cancer screening is insufficient. Both PSA and DRE were not recommended for population-based screening programs, but they could be conducted as individual-based screening if basic requirements were met.

Akaza H, Tsuruo T, Saijo N, Sone S, Isonishi S, Ohashi Y, Sobue T, Yamanaka H, Fukuda M, Maruyama M, Eguchi K, Ito K, Smith M, Milsted B. · Dept. of Urology, University of Tsukuba, Japan. · Gan To Kagaku Ryoho. · Pubmed #15675598 No free full text.

Abstract: The purpose of cancer screening is to widen the difference between morbidity and mortality of the target cancer. Since 1983 cancer screening has been supported by the Japanese government. Initially it covered gastric and cervical cancer with lung, breast and endometrial cancers supported from 1987 and colorectal cancer in 1992. Since 1998 support for cancer screening has been transferred to local government. It is generally accepted that the uptake of screening services is too low. Estimates for Japan suggest that at best 30% of the eligible population accept the services. In other parts of the world screening is more widely accepted, for example, 67% for breast cancer and 79% for cervical screening in the USA. Barriers within Japan for increasing screening are complex and include, legal, ethical, financial, technical infrastructure, data related matters and the level of understanding and education of the general public. In 2000 the MHLW conducted an evaluation of cancer screening in terms of usefulness and effectiveness. It concluded that fair or better evidence for reduction in mortality existed for cervical cancer (cytology), breast cancer (mammography with clinical examination for women aged > or = 50 years), colorectal cancer (faecal occult blood test), gastric cancer, lung cancer and liver cancer. As a step towards improving screening services and their uptake by the general public a new Research Centre for Cancer Prevention and Screening was established at the National Cancer Centre in October 2003. This and other initiatives will build on the progress of the past 20 years but it is generally agreed that there is still have a long way to go.

Yoshimi I, Sobue T. · Statistics and Cancer Control Division, Research Center for Cancer Prevention and screening, National Cancer Center. · Jpn J Clin Oncol. · Pubmed #15640509 links to  free full text

This publication has no abstract.

Kamo K, Sobue T. · Statistics and Cancer Control Division, Research Center for Cancer Prevention and Screening, National Cancer Center. · Jpn J Clin Oncol. · Pubmed #15466832 links to  free full text

This publication has no abstract.